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Photographic 

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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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aiwpiwww.wiw  mtmi' 


•r-^ — 


MINUTES 


CONSPIRACY 


AGAINST    THE 


UBRRTIES  OF  AMERICA. 


Pl)ilabcl^lliii ! 
O  H  N    CAMPBELL. 

MDCCCLXV. 

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1 


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1 


PREFACE. 


SHOULD  the  learned  reader  find  thefe 
pages  crude,  trite  and  meagre,  it  is 
hoped  he  may  ftay  his  *'  vengeful  hand," 
when  he  is  told  they  were  compiled  by  a  mere 
apprentice  in  the  field  of  knowledge,  and  amidft 
avocations  far  removed  from  the  paths  of  litera- 
ture. 

Should  ir,  again,  be  objedted  that  accufations 
fuch  as  contained  in  the  pamphlet  here  republilhed 
had  better  have  been  left  unrecorded,  it  is  humbly 
Cubmitted,  that  he  who  writes  hiftory  (liould  write 
it  truly,  and  that  the  perfedl  ftatue  gives  a  better 
idea  of  the  fubjedt  than  a  baflb-relievo. 

w. 


■^(f^  l(c 


t 


INTRODUCTION. 


ONGRESS,  I  doubt  not,  will  have  heard 
of  the  plot  that  was  forming  among 
many  difafFefted  perfons  in  this  city  and 
government  for  aiding  the  King's  troops 
upon  their  arrival.  No  regular  plan  feems  to 
have  been  digefted ;  but  feveral  perfons  have 
been  enlifted  and  fworn  to  join  them.  The 
matter,  I  am  in  hopes,  by  a  timely  difcovery,  will  be 
lupprefled  and  put  a  ftop  to.  Many  citizens  and 
others,  among  whom  is  the  mayor,  aie  now  in  con- 
finement. The  matter  has  been  traced  up  to  Governor 
Tryon  ;  and  the  mayor  appears  to  have  been  a  princi- 
pal agent  between  him  and  the  perfons  concerned  in  it. 
The  plot  had  been  communicated  to  fome  of  the 
army,  and  part  of  my  guard  engaged  in  it.  Thomas 
Hickey,  one  of  them,  has   been    tried,    and    by  the 

unanimous 


(   vi   ) 

unanimous  opinion  of  a  court-martial,  is  fentenced  to 
die,  having  enlifted  himfeif,  and  engaged  others.  The 
fentehce,  by  the  order  of  the  whole  council  of  general 
officers,  will  be  put  in  execution  to-day  at  eleven 
o'clock.  The  others  are  not  tried.  I  am  hopeful 
this  example  will  produce  many  falutary  confequences, 
and  deter  others  from  entering  into  the  like  traitorous 
praftices."  ' 

So,  on  the  28th  June,  1776,  wrote  Wafhington  to 
the  Prefident  of  the  Congrefs,  then  fitting  at  Phila- 
delphia, refpeding  a  confpiracy,  whofe  ftory  is  thus 
related  by  the  lateft  of  his  biographers  : 

"The  wildeft  reports,"  fays  Wafhington  Irving, 
"  were  in  circulation  concerning  it.  Some  of  the  Tories 
were  to  break  down  King's  Bridge,  others  were  to 
blow  up  the  magazines,  fpike  the  guns,  and  maflacre 
all  the  field-officers.  Wafhington  was  to  be  killed  or 
delivered  up  to  the  enemy.  Some  of  his  own  body- 
guard were  faid  to  be  in  the  plot. 

Several  publicans  in  the  city  were  pointed  out,  as 
having  aided  or  abetted  the  plot.  One  was  landlord 
of  the  Highlander,  at  the  corner  of  Beaver  Street  and 
Broadway.  Another  difpenfed  liquor  under  the  fign 
of  Robin  Hood.     Another  named   Lowry,  defcribed 


as 


t 


.- 


'  Sparks's  Wnjl'mgtin,  \\\,  140-I. 


iP^iiV 


.- 


(  vii  ) 

as  a   "  fat  man  in  a  blue  coat,"  kept  tavern  in  a  low 
houfe  oppofite  the  Ofwego  market.     Another,  James 
Houlding,  kept  a  beer  houfe  in  Tryon  Row,  oppofite 
the  gates  of  the  upper  barracks.     It  would  feem  as  if 
a   net   work   of  corruption    and   treachery   had   been 
woven  throughout   the  city  by  means  of  thefe  liquor 
dealers.     One  of  the  moft  noted,  however,  was  Corbie, 
whofe   tavern  was   faid   to   be   "  to  the   fouth-eaft  of 
General    Wafliington's    houfe,     to    the    weftward    of 
Bayard's  Woods,  and  north  of  Lifpenard's  Meadows," 
from   which   it  would   appear   that,  at   that   time,  the 
general    was    quartered    at  what   was    formerly  called 
Richmond  Hill;    a  manfion  furrounded  by  trees,  at  a 
fliort  diftance  from  the  city,  in  rather  an  ifolated  fitua- 
tion. 

A  committee  of  the  New  York  Congrefs,  of  which 
John  Jay  was  chairman,  traced  the  plot  up  to  Gov- 
ernor Tryon,  who,  from  his  fafe  retreat  on  Ihip- 
board,  afted  through  agents  on  fhore.  The  moft  im- 
portant of  thefe  was  David  Matthews,  the  tory  mayor 
of  the  city.  He  was  accufed  of  difburfing  money  to 
enlift  men,  purchafe  arms,  and  corrupt  the  foldiery. 

WaOiington  was  authorized  and  requefted  by  the 
committee  to  caufe  the  mayor  to  be  apprehended,  and 
all   his  papers  fecured.     Matthews  was   at   that  time 

refiding 


(  viii  ) 


refiding  at  Flatbudi,  on  Long  Ifland,  at  no  great  dif- 
tance  from  General  Greene's  encampment.  Wafhing- 
ton  tranfmitted  the  warrant  of  the  committee  to  the 
general  on  the  21ft,  with  direftions  that  it  fhould  "  be 
executed  with  precifion,  and  exadlly  by  one  o'clock 
of  the  enfuing  morning,  by  a  careful  officer." 

Precifely  at  the  hour  of  one,  a  detachment  from 
Greene's  brigade  furrounded  the  houfe  of  the  mayor, 
and  fecured  his  perfon  ;  but  no  papers  were  found, 
though  diligent  fearch  was  made. 

Numerous  other  arrefts  took  place,  arid  among  the 
number  fonie  of  Wafliington's  body-guard.  A  great 
difmay  fell  upon  the  tories.  Some  of  thofe  on  Long 
Ifland,  who  had  proceeded  to  arm  themfelves,  finding 
the  plot  difcovered,  fought  refuge  in  woods  and  mo- 
rafles.  Wafliington  direded  that  thofe  arrefted,  who 
belonged  to  the  army,  fliould  be  tried  by  a  court- 
martial,  and  the  reft  handed  over  to  the  fecular  power. 

According  toftatements  made  before  the  committee, 
five  guineas  bounty  was  offered  by  Governor  Tryon 
to  each  man  who  ftiould  enter  the  King's  fervice ;  with 
a  promife  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  for  himfelf, 
one  hundred  for  his  wife,  and  fifty  for  each  child. 
The  men  thus  recruited  were  to  aft  on  fliore,  in  co- 
operation with  the  King's  troops  when  they  came. 

Corbie's 


i 


(  ix  ) 

Corbie's   tavern,  near  Wartiington's  quarters,  was  a 
kind  of  re.idezvous  of  the  confpirators.     There  one 
Gilbert  Forbes,  a  gunfmith,    "a   ftiort,   thick    man, 
with  a  white  coat,"  enlifted  men,  gave  them   money, 
and    "fwore   them  on  the  book  to  fecrecy."     Ftom 
this  houfe  a  correfpondence  was  kept  up  with  Governor 
Tryon   on    (hipboard,    through   a    "mulatto-colored 
negro,  drefled  in  blue  clothes."     At  this  tavern  it     as 
fuppofed  Wafhington's   body-guards    were   tampered 
with.     Thomas  Hickey,  one  of  the  guards,   a  dark- 
complexioned  man,  five  feet  fix  inches  high,  and  well 
set,  was  faid  not  only  to  be  enlifted,  but  to  have  aided 
in  corrupting  his  comrades ;  among  others,  Greene  the 
drummei,  and  Johnfon  the  fifer. 

It  was  further  teftified  before  the  committee,  that 
one  Sergeant  Graham,  an  old  foldier,  formerly  of  the 
royal     artillery,    had    been    employed    by    Governor 
Tryon  to  prowl  around  and   furvey  the  grounds  and 
works  about  the  city,  and  on  Long  Ifiand,  and  that, 
on  information  thus  procured,  a  plan  of  operations 
had  been  concerted.     On  the  arrival   of  the  fleet,   a 
man-of-war   fliould   cannonade    the   battery   at    Red 
Hook ;  while  that  was  doing,   a  detachment  of  the 
army  ftiould  land  below  with  cannon,  and  by  a  circuit- 
ous march  furprife   and  ftorm    the  works  on  Long- 
B  Ifland. 


Ifland.  The  (hipping,  then,  with  the  remainder  of  the 
army,  were  to  divide,  one  part  to  run  up  the  Hudfon 
the  Oi;her  up  the  Eaft  River;  troops  were  to  land 
above  New  York,  fecure  the  pafs  at  King's  Bridge,  and 
cut  ofFai'  communication  between  the  city  and  country.' 
Much  cf  the  evidence  given  was  of  a  dubious  kind. 
It  was  certain  that  perfons  had  fecretly  been  enlifted, 
and  fworn  to  hoilile  operations,  but  Waftiington  did 
not  think  that  any  regular  plan  had  been  digefted  by 
the  confpirators.  "The  matter,"  wrote  he,  "I  am 
in  hopes,  by  a  timely  difcovery,  will  be  supprefled.* 

According  to  the  mayor's  own  admifllon  before  the 
committee,  he  had  been  cognizant  of  attempts  to  enlift 
tories  and  corrupt  Waftiington's  guards,  though  he 
declared  that  he  had  difcountenanced  them-  He  had 
on  one  occafion,  alfo,  at  the  requeft  of  Governor 
Tryon,  paid  money  for  him  to  Gilbert  Forbes,  the 
gunfmith,  for  rifles  and  round  bored  guns  which  he 
had  already  furnilhed,  and  for  others  wiilch  he  was  t 
make.  He  had  done  fo,  however  (according  to  hi3 
account),  with  great  -eluftance,  and  after  much  hefita- 
tion  and  delay,  warning  the  gunf  nith  thit  he  would 
be  hanged  if  found  out.  The  mayor  with  a  number 
of  others,  w^ie  detained  in  prifon  to  awaii  a  trial. 

Thomas 

'  Am.  Arch.  4ih  scries,  vi,  1177. 

*  WaHiinf.ion  to  the  Frcfident  of  Congrefs,  June  28. 


\ 

I 


n 


M 


(xi) 

Thomas  Hickey,  the  individual  of  Waftiington's 
guard,  was  tried  before  a  court-martial.  He  was  an 
Irifliman,  and  had  been  a  deferter  from  the  Britifh 
army.  The  court-martial  found  him  guilty  of  mutiny 
and  fedition,  and  treacherous  correfpondence  with  the 
enemy,  and  fentenced  him  to  be  hanged. 

The  fentence  was  approved  by  Wafhington,  and 
was  carried  promptly  into  effedt,  in  the  moft  folemn 
and  impreflive  manner,  to  ferve  as  a  warning  and  ex- 
ample in  this  time  of  treachery  and  danger.  On  the 
morning  of  the  28th,  all  the  officers  and  men  off  duty, 
belcpging  to  the  brigades  of  Heath,  Spencer,  Stirling 
and  Scott,  aflembled  under  arms  at  their  refpeftive 
parades  at  10  o'clock,  and  marched  thence  to  the 
ground.  Twenty  men  from  each  brigade,  with  bayo- 
nets fixed,  guarded  the  prifoner  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, which  was  a  field  near  the  Bowery  Lane.  There 
he  was  hanged  in  the  prefence,  we  are  told,  of  near 
twenty  thoufand  perfons. 

While  the  city  was  ftill  brooding  over  this  doleful 
fpedacle,  four  ftiips  of  war,  portentous  vifitants,  ap- 
appeared  off  the  Hook,  flood  quietly  in  at  the  Nar- 
rows, and  dropped  anchor  in  the  bay. 

In  his  orderly  book,  Wafhington  exprefled  a  hope 
that  the  unhappy  fate  of  Thomas  Hickey,  executed 

that 


(  xii  ) 

that  day  for  mutiny,  fedition  and  treachery,  would  be 
a  warning  to  every  foldier  in  the  line,  to  avoid  the 
crimes  for  which  he  fuffered." 

Mr.  Irving  then  adds  the  following  note:  "As  a 
fpecimcn  of  the  reports  which  circulated  throughout 
the  country,  concerning  this  confpiracy,  we  give  an 
extraft  from  a  letter,  written  from  Wethersfield,  in 
Connedlicut,  9th  of  July,  1766,  by  the  Reverend 
John  Marfh. 

"You  have  heard  of  the  infernal  plot  that  has  been 
difcovered.     About   ten  days  before  any  of  the  con- 
fpirators  were  taken  up,  a  woman  went  to  the  general 
and  defired  a  private  audience.     He  granted  it  to  her, 
and  fhe  let  him  know  that  his  life  was  in  danger,  and 
gave  him  fuch   an  account  of  the  confpiracy  as  gained 
his    confidence.       He    opened    the    matter   to    a   few 
friends,   on  whom   he  could   depend.     A   ftrift  watch 
was  kept  night  and  day,  until  a  favorable  opportunity 
occurred;  when  the  general  went  to  bed  as  ufual,  arofe 
about  two   o'clock,    told  his  lady  he  was  a  going,  with 
fome'of  the  Provincial  Congrefs,  to  order  fome  tories 
feized  — defired  file  would  make   herfelf  eafy,  and  go 
to  fieep.     He  went  ofl^  without   any  of  his  aides-de- 
camp, except  the  captain  of  his  life  guard,  was  joined 
by  a  number  of  chofen  men,  with  lanterns,  and  proper 

inftruments 


(  xiii  ) 

inftruments   to   break   open   houfes,    and    before   fix 
o'clock  next  morning,  had  forty  men  under  guard  at 
the  City  Hall,  among  whom  was  the  mayor  of  the 
city,  feveral  merchants,  and  five  or  fix  of  his  own 
life-guard.     Upon  examination,  one  Forbes  confefled 
that   the   plan  was   to  aflaffinate  the  general,  and  aS 
many  of  the  fuperior  officers  as   they  could,   and   to 
blow   up  the   magazine  upon  the  appearance  of  the 
enemy's  fleet,  and  to  go  ofl^  in  boats  prepared  for  that 
purpofe  to  join  the  enemy.     Thos.  Hickey,  who  has 
been  executed,  went  from  this  place.     He  came  from 
Ireland  a  few  years  ago.     What  will  be  done  with  the 
mayor   is   uncertain.     He   can't    be    tried    by   court- 
martial,  and  it   is  faid,  there  is  no  law  of  that  colony 
by  which   he  can   be  condemned.     May  he   have  his 
deferts."  ' 

Under  date  of  July  4th,  1776,  Chriftopher  Marlhall 
records:  "Accounts  from  New  York  are,  that, 
Friday  laft,  one  of  General  Walhington's  guard  was 
executed  in  a  field  near  that  city  for  mutiny  and  con-  . 
fpiracy,  he  being  one  of  thofe  who  had  formed  a  plot 
to  afi-aflinate  the  ftafl^  officers,  blowing  up  the  magazines 
and  fecuring  the  papers  of  the  town  on  the  arrival  of 
the  Tyrant  George  the  Third's  fleet  before  this  city." 

The 

*Irving's  Waniington,  li,  242,  247. 


(  xiv  ) 

The  reader  may  alfo  confult  Thatcher,  Gordon,  Wat- 
{bn  and  Force's  Archives ;  from  the  latter  of  which, 
however,  copious  extracts  may  be  found  in  the  notes' 
appended. 

Refpefting  the  charge  againft  the  morality  of  Wafh- 
ington  —  often  aflerted  by  his  cotemporaries  —  whether 
true  or  not,  and  we  fliould  be  loathe  to  believe  it,  it 
muft  be  recolleifted,  that  at  that  day  a  laxnefs'  of 
focial  virtue  was  not  vifited  with  fo  fevere  a  cenfure  as 
it  is  in  our  own  time  — and  that  fome  of  the  promi- 
nent men  of  the  age  were  not  proof  againft  tempta- 
tion, we  know  from  the  confeflions  of  Hamilton  and 
the  intrigues  of  Burr. 


■■i  (i 


MINUTES 


OF    THE 


TRIAL  AND  EXAMINATION 

OF 

CERTAIN     PERSONS, 

IN    THE 

Province  of  NEW  YORK, 

CHARGED    WITH    BEING    ENGAGED    IN    A 

CONSPIRACY  againft  the  Author itv, 
of  the  CONGRESS, 

AND 

The  LIBERTIES  of  AMERICA. 


LONDON: 
Printed  for  J.  BEW,  No.  28,  Pater-noster-Row. 


M  DCC  LXXXVI. 

[  Price  One  Shilling.  ] 


J 


ERRATA. 

Page  ;.  line  12,  for  infiduous,  read  itijtdious.  P.  12.  1.  15.  (ot  difclve 
r.  difdol'e.  P.  6.  1.  10,  for  ever,  r.  ^w».  P.  8,  1.  11,  for  Diflrefs 
County,  r.  Dutcbefs  County.  P.  8,  I.  20,  after  brewhoufe  dele  the ;  and 
read  etie  o'clock  in  the  morning. 


h       1 


m 


i^TTi-mrr     1 1  --i.^.tri*itfMnliin,>,nta.,%rWtt.1imiiri   ■•1 


PREFACE. 


T"X  THILE  the  city  of  New- York  was 
'^  "  in  the  pofleflion  of  the  American 
army,  great  numbers  of  the  inhabit- 
ants were  feized,  accufed  of  being  con- 
cerned in  a  confpiracy,  and  fent  prifoners 
into  Connedicut.  Some  were  brought 
to  a  trial,  found  guilty,  and  condemned 
as  traitors.  Great  difcoveries,  it  was  faid, 
were  made  of  plots  againft  the  congrefs. 
But  the  trial  of  the  culprits  was  managed 
with  fo  much  fecrecy  that  nothing  of  con- 
fequence  tranfpired ;    fo  that  many  were 

induced 
C 


(iv) 
induced  to  believe,  that  it  was  an  artful 
fcheme  of  the  congrefs  and  committee  to 
punifh  their  internal  enemies,  or  prevent 
them  from  doing  mifchief,  without  alarm- 
ing the  body  of  the  people. 

The    following    minutes    throw   much 
light  on  the  affair.     They  were  difcovered 
(on  the  late  capture  of  New- York  by  the 
Britifh    troops)    among    the  papers    of  a 
perfon  who  appears  to  have  been  fecretary 
to    the   committee.       Yhey    ^m   furnifh 
entertainment  to  thofe  who  wifli  to  know 
the  particulars  of  this   myfterious   tranf- 
adion. 


MI- 


''^ 


{ ■ ) 


MINUTES 


OF    THE 


COMMITTEE,     &c 


ll^ILLlAM  COLLIER  (waiter  at  the  Serjeant's 
»  V  Arms  Tavern,  kept  by  Alexander  Sinclair, 
near  the  old  Barracks)  waited  upon  Jofeph  Smith, 
Efq.,  in  the  city,  and  informed  him,  that  he  had  fome 
affairs  of  great  importance  to  communicate  to  him  if 
he  could  depend  upon  being  fecured  himfelf  from 
danger.  Upon  which  Mr.  Smith  gave  him  all  poffible 
aflurances,  that  fo  far  from  being  punifhed,  he  Ihould 
be  confiderably  rewarded  if  his  difcoveries  were  of  any 
importance.  Encouraged  by  this,  he  faid,  that  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  had  met  for 
many  months  at  the  houfe  aforefaid,  that  having  heard 
them  during  his  attendance  fpeak  very  often  difrefped- 
ful  of  the  congrefs,  and  perceiving  them  very  much 
engaged  in  writing  letters,  and  remarking  that  they 
always  fufpended  their  converfation  or  fpoke  refervedly 
when  he  was  prefent,  his  fufpicions  were  excited  that 
they  did    not    meet    merely   for   entertainment.     On 

which 


1)! 


which  he  concealed  himfelf  in  ,„     j-   •   • 
"gagemeat  which  had  been  entered  il  ■       u        '" 

were  diftributed  anion.  ^^  ■  "'^^''^^'°"'  ^^at  arms 
»„erponde„ee  .TZI^  Z^l,;:^  *"' 
'••"y,  and  that  they  had  formed  Vnr        ,  "" 

been  kept  up  between  fh  ?  P^'P"*^  ''^'^ 

Briti/h  fervid  to  T         u'  ""^  ""''"  P^'-^°"«  ■"  ^he 

«ate  o/r;:^:' ::  j  rarr'^r"-:^ ''- 

ceived  council  and   nfoney  fo'th    [  "  '"^'^  ^" 

their  defigns      Mr   Sm  I         .  ""■  '^""''°"  °f 

the   namef  of  t^e        r      '^"'"'""^'^  '^'"^  -"«--g 

XI-  "UJK.C,  ana    bebring,  were    thf    r^^a 

adli/eperfons      The  n^^   •     •  i        ^  """^ 

•his  inL..ti;n  flZ'Tirr'  1  "''"'-' 

to  proceed  with  the  ut^oft  Zl„       I  'T™'"'" 
of  men   tU  ■  .  caution,   ordered  a  party 

ot   me,    the  next   night  to   feize  Mr.  Gilbert  FoLl 

^:.r:;tt-rr:-jnd^^-^^^ 

proceeded  about  two  in  the  n,  P     ^^^^"^^^ 

Mr.  Forbes    in  the  R      ^  "'"^   '°  '^'  '^""^^  °^ 

his 


(  3   ) 

his  efcape,  the  Captain  knocked  at  the  front  door,  and 
demanded  admittance,  on  its  being  opened,  and  find- 
ing the  culprit  was  in  an  upper  room  in  bed,  rufhed 
up  ftairs,  broke  open  the  door,  and  feized  him  before 
he  could  meditate  an  efcape.  They  then  required  his 
keys,  which,  after  fome  hefitation,  he  delivered  upon 
being  told  that  what  they  did  was  by  the  order  of  the 
provincial  congrefs  ;  they  then  conveyed  him  to  an 
apartment  in  the  New  Goal,  where  he  was  properly 
fecured.  His  papers  were  delivered  to  the  provincial 
congrefs,  which  met  the  next  day,  among  which  were 
many  letters  and  minutes  which  threw  great  light  on 
the  defigns  of  the  confpirators.  The  following  among 
many  other  interefting  ones  were  read  at  the  board: 

Copy  of  an  A[fociation  entered  into  on  the  \T,tb  of  May, 
1776. 


ift.  "We  the  underwritten  being  firmly  attached  to 
the  glorious  conftitution  of  Great  Britain,  loyal  fubjefts 
of  our  gracious  Sovereign,  King  George  the  Third, 
and  deeply  fenfible  of  the  miferies  brought  on  this 
devoted  country,  by  the  wicked  artifices  cf  an  ambi- 
tious fadion,  do  heartily  and  fincerely  covenant  and 
agree  and  pledge  ourfelves  to  each  other  by  every 
thing  that  is  honourable  and  facred,  that  we  will  dili- 
gently and  faithfully  endeavour  to  reftore  the  conftitu- 
tional  government  of  thefe  colonies,  Knd  the  happy 
connexion  that  once  fubfirted  between  Great  Britain 
and  America. 

ad. 


<• 


(  +  ) 

2d,  •'  That  for  this  purpofe  we  will  zealoufly  put  in 
praftice  every  honeft  method  to  inculcate  loyalty  in 
the  minds  of  the  people,  to  reprefent  in  their  true 
colours  the  oppreflions,  infiduous  machinations,  and 
cruel  perfecutions  of  an  illegal  and  arbitrary  congrefs, 
and  that  we  will  feize  every  opportunity  to  diflblve  their 
councils,  and  fruftrate  their  operations  :  That  every 
member  of  this  aflbciation  binds  himfelf  in  the  moft 
folemn  and  facred  manner  to  be  faithful  to  the  common 
caufe,  and  to  retain  with  the  utmod  caution  the 
fecrets  committed  to  him. 

jd.  "That  a  committee  be  appointed  for  the  tranf- 
adion  of  bufinefs,  and  for  carrying  on  acorrefpondence 
with  the  members  of  this  fociety  refiding  in  any  of  the 
counties  of  this  or  neighboring  provinces;  that  the 
members  as  many  as  can,  will  meet  once  a  week  for 
management  of  our  common  affairs. 

4th.  "  That  no  perfon  fhall  be  admitted  a  member 
except  he  has  paffed  an  examination  with  the  com- 
mittee. 

5th.  "Should  any  member  of  this  affociation  fall 
under  a  fufpicion,  be  taken  prifoner,  or  even  puniflied 
with  death  by  our  enemies,  he  fhall  look  upon  himfelf 
as  bound  in  honour  and  confcience  not  to  betray  any 
of  his  aflbciates,  or  to  communicate  any  of  the  fecrets 
of  this  fociety." 

The  following  letters,  with  the  fuperfcriptions  and 
fignatures  erafed,  were  alfo  read  at  the  board. 

"My 


I 


(5   ) 

"  My  dear  Friend, 

"  Our  good  caufe  thrives  moft  wonderfully  and  pro- 
videntially hereabouts.  We  have  great  hopes  that 
the  tyranny  of  our  cruel  taflc-mafters  will  foon  be 
ended.  The  little  finger  of  thefe  defpots  is  heavier 
than  the  loins  of  the  moft  arbitrary  miniftry.  They 
ftiew  their  fuperiority  only  by  their  cruelty.  The 
people  groan  under  their  oppreflions,  and  comparing 
their  prefent  mifery  with  their  former  happinefs  and 
tranquility,  long  to  throw  off  the  yoke.  They  plunder 
our  barns,  enter  our  houfes,  and  forcibly  take  from 
us  what  we  have  fweated  and  toiled  for;  giving  us 
in  return  nothing  but  their  paltry  paper.  If  we  are 
to  be  flaves,  let  us  be  fo  to  the  lion,  and  not  to  the 
loufy  dirty  vermin  of  New  England.  We  have  had 
many  meetings  lately,  and  fo  many  are  defirous  of 
aflbciati.,g  with  us,  that  we  are  afraid  leaft  the  fecret 
might  tranfpire  by  being  communicated  to  too  great  a 
number;  we  have  already  two  hundred  aflbciators  in 
this  county  who  have  bound  themfelves  by  the  moft 
folemn  afleverations  to  fidelity  ;  we  are  much  at  a  lofs 
to  know  how  to  aft  about  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
congrefs,  which  'tis  faid  they  intend  foon  to  impofe  on 
us.  Heaven  fend  us  a  fpeedy  deliverance.  We  are 
well  fupplied  with  arms,  which  every  man  keeps  hid, 
to  ufe  when  occafion  permits,  but  we  are  in  great  want 
of  powder.  The  drubbing  which  they  had  in  Canada 
works  wonderfully,  and  if  General  Howe  ftiould  give 
them  one  found  thraftiing,  numbers  will  be  ready  to 
fly  to  his  proteftion  ;  depend  upon  our  conftancy  and 

fidelity 


(  6  ) 

fidelity.  Let  us  know  all  yor.i^  motions  that  we 
may  co-operate  together.  This  goes  by  Edward 
i»taggs,  a  faft   friend   to  our  iiitcreft.     God  blefs  the 

^'!f\    ,  Amen." 

Dijirefs  County, 

May  15,  1776." 

Numb.  II. 
"Sir," 

"We  hope  that  according  to  your  promife  you  will 
have  the  rifle  guns   ready  by  Saturday  night,    as  we 
fliall  fend  a  boat  down  under  the  diredion  of  James 
Clavering,  to  lie  ofl^the  old  battery,  near  George  Har- 
nfon'sbrewhoufe;   about  ten   o'clock  in   the  morning 
he  will  fend  his  negroe  man  Cufl^,  to  acquaint  you  with 
his  coming,  fo  that  if  you  can  get  any  of  our  alTociates 
who  are  under  arms  to   conceal   them    in   fome   houfe 
nigh,  we  may  be  able  to  carry  them  off.     By  all  means 
take  care  and  ufe  great  precautions,  for  if  we  fliould 
be  blown  up,  we  fhould  meet  no  mercy.     Lt.  Steele 
would  be   the  mort  proper  perfon   to  be  employed  on 
this  fervice.     My  love  to   your  wife  and  children,  and 
to  all  true  hearts  under  the  rofe. 

Your's,  ever 

M 
Numb.  Ill, 
"Sir, 

"Embracing   this  good   opportunity,    I  give    you 
much  joy  of  the  death  of  that  arch  rebel  and  firebrand 

Montgomery, 


(  7   ) 

Montgomery,  and  hope  e'er  long  it  will  be  the  fate  of 
many  more.     I    can't   help  laughing  to   fee   the  long 
faces  of  many  of  my  neighbours  on  this  occafion  ;  had 
I  my  wiih  their  necks  fhouid  be  as  long  as  their  faces: 
by  all  accounts  it    has  kicked  up  a  devil  of  an  uproar 
at  Carpenters    hall,  and    I    fuppofe  we  fliall  very  foon 
have  anotherrfaft —  faft  of  the   fleHi  I    mean,  for  their 
pious  paftors  take  care   to  give  the  faints  on   fuch  oc- 
cafions  a  fpiritual  feajl  of  treafon  and  rebellion.      My 
neighbor  Voorhuys  fays  there  muft  have  been  treachery 
in    the  cafe,    and    thinks    that    Donald   Campbell  is  a 
very  good  hand  at  a  retreat.     Things  go  very  bravely 
on  with    us.     The   old  farmers  (bake  their  heads,  and 
fay,  this  is  not  the  thing,  we  long  to   fee   fome   more 
Englifh  guineas  among  us.     Jabez  Fifher  and  I   have 
taken  occafion  to  go  much  among  them,  and  tell  them 
the  defigns  of  the  congrefs  are  all  impofition,  that  they 
never   fuffered   any  thing   from  England,  and    that  we 
(hal!    never  be   happy  till   the   old   times   are  reftored, 
that  old  John    Bull   is   rouzed  at   laft,   and  that  what 
they  thought  fear  or  weaknefs  was  nothing  but  mercy 
and    gentlenefs.     We    now   meet    frequently    at    each 
others  houfes,  drink  the  King  on  our  marrow-bones, 
and  confufion   to   the   congrefs ;    we   have  fifty  names 
now  down  on  our  aflbciation  paper,  all  (launch  hearty 
fellows,    only   waiting    an    opportunity    to    (hew    our 
loyalty.      I  had  an  affray  lately  with  one  of  their  offi- 
cers, a  Capt.  Lefferts,  who  was  quartered  in  our  neigh- 
bourhood.    He  fent  a  foldier  the  other  day  to  purchafe 
fome  of  my  poultry,  I  told  him  I  could  not  fpare  rny  ; 
D  on 


(8  ) 

on  which   the  villain  had   the  impudence  to  tell  me  he 
came   by  the  order  of  his  captain,   and  would   have 
them.     My  choler  got  the  hetter  of  my  prudence,  and 
I  pufhed   him   out  of  my  houfe,  and    (hut   the   door 
upon  him.     The  captain  waited   on  me  the  next  day, 
and  afked  me  how  I  dared  to  treat  one  of  the  congrefs's 
foldiers  and  his  fervant  in  fo  audacious  a  manner.     I 
told  him  the  property  was  mine,  and  would  ufe  it  as  I 
pleafed  ;  he  made  no  anfwer,  but  went  away  in  a  pafllon, 
and  foon  returned  with  a  party  of  his  myrmidons,  who 
inlulted    me    in    the   grofTeft  manner,  took  away   my 
poultry,  and  broke  my  windows;   I  have  (ince  applied 
to  the  committee  for  redrefs,  but  could  not  obtain  a 
hearing,  as   I    fuppofe  they  partook  of  the  plunder. 
Such   is  our  glorious    liberty,   or  rather  the   liberty, 
which   thefe  mifcreants  take  with  us.     I   hope,  how- 
ever,  we  /hall   foon  have  fatisfadtion  of  thefe  rafcals. 
Honeft   Savage  is  here,   and  fends    his    compliments 
to  you.     Kifs  Betfey  for  me ;   my  fpoufe  defires  to  be 
remembered'to  you  both. 

I  am. 
Your  friend  and  fervant, 
Poughkeepfey,  1776. 


The  provincial  congrefs  having  taken  the  above 
letters  under  confideration,  and  finding  from  other 
circumftances,  that  a  moft  wicked  and  dangerous  con- 

fpiracy 


(9  ) 

fpiracy  was  formed  againft  the  liberties  of  America, 
judged  proper  to  appoint  a  committee  of  enquiry, 
with  powers  to  examine  into  the  nature  of  it,  and  to 
fit  in  judgment  in  bringing  to  condign  punifhment 
fuch  perfon  or  perfons  as  they  fhould  find  concerned 
in  it.  The  following  perfons  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee for  the  purpofe. 

President. 

Peter  R.  Livingfton. 
J.  M.  Scott,  Peter  Curtenius, 

Marinus  Willett,  John  Abeel, 

Alex.  M'Dougal,  Corn.  Byvank, 

John  Berrian,  John  Stoutenburgh, 

Here.  Mulligen,  James  Weflels, 

Gerftiom  Mott,  John  Crimfhire. 


Gilbert  Smith,  Secretary. 

June  23.  The  committee  met  at  the  houfe  of  Mr. 
Jafper  Drake,  and  proceeded  upon  bufinefs ;  Mr. 
Abraham  Livingfton  attending,  informed  the  com- 
mittee, that  the  night  before  he  waited  upon  Mr. 
Gilbert  Forbes,  at  his  apartment  in  the  New  Goal, 
and  laying  before  him  in  the  ftrongeft  colours  the 
danger  of  his  fituation,  and  that  there  was  no  other 
way  for  him  to  obtain  mercy  but  by  making  a  full 
confeflion.  The  prifoner  fignified  to  him,  that  if 
fecurity  fliould  be  given  him  for  his  own  perfonal 
fafety,  he  would  difclofe  matters  of  great  importance : 

the 


i 


(   lo  ) 

the  committee  taking  into  ferious  confideration  this 
information,  ordered  the  prifoner  to  be  brought  before 
them  under  a  proper  guard. 

Mr.  Forbes  being  brought  into  their  prefence,  dif- 
covered  great  figns  of  confternation  and  guilt,  and 
with  a  faultering  voice  begged  the  committee  would 
allow  him  fome  time  to  compofe  his  mind,  and  permit 
him  to  have  council  to  affift  him  in  his  defence,  as  he 
was  entirely  unprepared  to  anfwer  any  queftions,  and 
might  prejudice  himfelf  by  his  ignorance  of  the  forms 
ufually  pradifed  in  fuch  cafes. 

Prefidc.t.  Sir,  we  (liall  /hew  you  all  the  candour  and 
juftice  you  can  expedt.  The  queftions  we  fhall  put  to 
you  are  only  concerning  matters  of  faft,  and  if  you 
wifh  for  time  only  to  be  better  able  to  prevaricate  and 
evade,  I  inform  you  that  your  requeft  cannot  be 
granted.  Sir,  the  crime  you  are  charged  with  is  of  a 
moft  heinous  nature,  and  you  are  little  entitled  even 
to  the  formality  of  a  trial,  neverthelefs,  Mr.  Forbes,  as 
we  have  been  informed,  you  are  difpofed  to  ftiew 'the 
fincerity  of  your  repentance  by  making  an  ample  dif- 
covery,  a.id  wiping  off  your  guilt  againft  your  country, 
by  enabling  us  to  deted  and  avert  the  mifchiefs  you 
intended  againft  it,  fuch  conduft  may  recommend  you 
to  the  clemency  and  mercy  of  this  court. 

Prifoner.  I  beg,  gentlemen,  you  will  not  be  harfti 
and  hafty  with  me.  I  am  fure  I  never  meant  any 
harm  againft  my  country,  but  minded  the  bufinefs  of 
my  ftiop;  I  have  been  treated  very  cruelly,  torn  out 
of  my  bed  at   the  dead  of  lught,   my  fick  wife  and 

family 


K'igagW.i'.s.ss: 


( ■• ) 

family  alarmed,  my  papers  feized,  and  my  houfe  ran- 
facked,  without  my  knowing  why  or  wherefore,  and 
thrown  into  a  prifon,  denied  the  council  or  afliftance 
of  any  friend  or  acquaintance. 

Mr.  Mulligen.  Sir,  Sir  !  I  am  furprifed  you  have 
the  boldne  s  to  fpeak  in  this  manner  before  the  com- 
mittee, after  what  you  have  been  guilty  of  We  do 
not  fit  here  to  hear  you  criminate,  neither  will  fuch 
language  avail  you.  Sir,  we  have  authentic  evidence 
of  your  having  been  concerned  in  a  hellifli  confpiracy, 
and  we  were  informed  that  you  was  defirous  of  obtain- 
ing mercy,  by  making  an  honeft  and  full  confeiTion ; 
as  a  frieiui,  I  advife  you  to  conceal  nothing,  as  you 
hope  for  pardon. 

Mr.  Curtenius.  Then  you  know  nothing,  fir,  of  an 
aflociation  ?  you  never  have  received  any  letters  from 
the  country  containing  treafonable  matters.''  you  never 
met  1  fuppofe  at  the  Serjeant's  Arms  ? 

Prifoner.  Indeed,  gentlemen,  I  am  entirely  innocent, 
I  beg  you  will  allow  me  time  to  prepare  for  my  de- 
fence. 

Mr.  M'Dougal.  Gentlemen,  I  would  recommend 
that  if  the  prifoner  continues  obftinate,  he  fi^ould  be 
remanded  to  prifon  ;  we  have  no  time  for  delay;  delays 
are  dangerous,  gentlemen,  the  villainous  defigns  of 
our  enemies  muft  be  averted  by  fome  fpeedy  examples, 
no  punifliment  can  be  too  fevere  for  men  who  have 
confpired  the  ruin  of  us  all. 

Prefident.  I  would  advife  you,  Mr.  Forbes,  ferioufly 
to  weigh   your  critical   fituation,  and   to  plead  guilty, 

for 


I   I 


(    12    ) 

for  we  are  in  no  want  of  proof  fufficient  to  juftify  us 
in  condemning  you  to  the  mofl  ignominious  punifti- 
ment;  if  your  confeflion  is  candid  and  clear,  you  may 
in  fome  degree  repair  the  mifchiefs  you  have  occa- 
fioned,  and  in  the  name  of  this  committee  I  promife 
you  a  full  and  free  pardon,  if  you  will  difclofe  the 
whole  without  referve. 

Prijoner.  Ho\y,  Sir,  would  you  have  me  to  confefs, 
when  I  know  nothing  that  I  am  guilty  of  againft  my 
country.  I  have  afked  you  for  time  and  to  he  tried 
by  a  jury  of  my  neighbours,  which  you  refufe  me. 

Mr.  Livingjlon.  You  are  not,  I  would  have  you  to 
know,  to  diftate  to  the  court,  we  are  here  to  try  and 
judge  you  by  the  authority  of  the  congrefs.  You  will 
not  prefume  to  difpute,  I  hope,  its  authority.  Ser- 
jeant call  in  Mr.  Collier. 

Collier  being  fworn,  he  depofed  what  he  told  to  Mr. 
Smith,  of  his  having  met  at  the  tavern  with  Mr.  Child, 
Roberts,  Abrams,  &c.  &c.  that  Mr.  Forbes  was 
generally  there,  and  a  very  aftive  member.  The 
following  letter,  among  others,  which  were  taken  at 
Mr.  Forbe's  houfe,  was  read. 
"  Gentlemen, 

"  I  have  been  thinking  about  our  fkeam,  and  I  do 
think  that  we  cannot  take  too  much  care,  that  the 
Wigs  do  not  finde  us  oute,  what  we  are  about,  as  they 
have  two  many  on  there  fide  of  the  queftione,  and 
may  take  us  up.  I  propofe  then  for  us  to  meet  on 
Satorday  alone  by  hourfelves  in  the  wud  near  King- 
bridge  on  the  left  hande  fide  of  the  rode  from  Yorke, 

and 


'*'*^^iuS8w 


jiiiaMB 


,M. 


(    13    ) 

and  that  cache  man  (hud  bring  a  piftal  or  cutlarti  with 
him  in  order  to  defende  hourfelf,  if  needfuUe.  My 
boye  is  to  bringe  me  your  anfwer,  and  he  knowes 
nothinge  whiche  I  have  wrote, 

I  am, 
Gentlemen, 

your  hum.  farvant 

in  Affiftione." 

Preftdent.  Do  you  know  thefe  letters  ? 

Prijoner.  They  were  left  with  me  by  a  friend  among 
fome  other  papers ;  they  were  not  directed  to  me,  and 
are  none  of  my  concern. 

Preftdent.   Do  you  know  the  writers  of  them  ? 

Prijoner.  They  were  not  fent  to  me — I  am  entirely 
unprepared  —  I  cannot  give  anfwers  to  fuch  queftions. 

(The  court  having  taken  into  view  the  obftinacy  of 
the  prifoner,  remanded  him  into  clofe  confinement.) 
Jacobus  Lawrence  was  then  brought  into  court,  by 
Mr.  Livingfton,  who  faid  he  could  give  fome  informa- 
tion on  the  bufinefs  of  the  committee. 


Jacobus  Lawrence  fworn. 

Court.  You  keep  a  tavern  at  Hempftead,  on  Long 
Ifland? 

Lawrence.  Yes,  Sir. 

Court.  Pray,  Mr.  Lawrence,  do  you  know  the 
names  of  the  perfons,  I  think  they  were  fix  in  number, 
that  dined  at  your  houfe  on  Sunday  the  9th  of  June 
laft,  and  do  you  remember  to  have  heard  any  of  their 
converfation  upon  public  matters  ? 

Lawrence. 


<iiS»  '   -S^CTf- 


1 


(   H  ) 

Lawrence.  There  was  only  five,  their  names  I  do 
not  know,  but  they  talked  to  me  about  lying  at  my 
houfe  the  enfuing  plovering  feafon  ;  one  of  them 
aflced  me  if  I  was  Whig  or  Tory?  I  told  him  I 
was  for  peace :  upon  which  a  fecond  faid,  there  never 
would  be  peace  whilft  fuch  men  as  compofed  the  con- 
grefs  had  the  command.  Upon  this  I  was  alarmed, 
and  one  of  them  alked  me  what  was  the  matter  ?  I 
faid,  for  God's  fake,  gentlemen,  take  care  what  you 
fay,  the  honourable  congrefs  is  not  to  be  fpoken  of  in 
this  manner. 

Court.  Could  you  not  difcover,  Mr.  Lawrence, 
where  the  perfons  lived  who  fpoke  fo  difrefpedfully  of 
the  congrefs, 

Lawrence.  As  I  am  upon  my  facred  oath,  I  believe 
they  live  all  of  them  at  New  York,  but  they  were 
entire  ftrangers  to  me. 

Court.  Proceed,  Mr.  Lawrence,  and  inform  the 
court  what  more  pafled. 

Lawrence.  The  gentleman  at  the  end  of  the  table, 
whom  I  took  to  be  a  Scotchman,  feemed  to  cough, 
and  then  took  a  pinch  of  fnuff;  upon  this  not  a  word 
more  was  fpoke  till  I  went  out  of  the  room. 

Court.  Do  you  know,  or  did  you  hear  any  thing 
more  that  pafled  ? 

Lawrence.  The  (hrug  of  the  man  in  the  corner 
raifed  my  fufpicions,  I  feemed  to  be  very  bufy  about 
my  bufinefs,    but    fet    my   houfekeeper,    Jemima,    to 

liften. 

Court.  Can  you  depend  upon  the  word  of  Jemima  ? 

Lawrence. 


il 


(   -5  ) 

Lawrence.  Ever  fince  the  death  of  my  poor  wife, 
now  eleven  years,  we  have  lived  upon  the  mod 
intimate  footing,  and  I  have  no  reafon  to  doubt  her 
in  a  fingle  thing. 

Court.     Well,  Mr.  Lawrence,  what  did  Jemima  hear? 

Lawrence.  She  faid  that  one  of  the  men  faid,  that 
fallow  feems  to  love  money,  fuppofe  we  feel  his  pulfe 
on  this  confpiracy :  as  foon  as  the  word  confpiracy 
was  mentioned  fhe  was  alarmed,  and  called  me  in, 
thinking  the  negroes  were  going  to  rife. 

Court.  Where  do  you  mean, — into  the  room  where 
the  five  perfons  were  ? 

Lawrence.  No  —  into  the  houfe  —  I  was  at  the  door 
ferving  two  cullomers  from  North  Side,  with  a  fmall 
dram  of  rum  a-piece.  She  took  me  afide  and  told  me 
there  was  a  plot,  or  fomething  like  it,  going  forward, 
and  faid,  flie  wiftied  thofe  people  were  out  of  the 
houfe. —  I  faid,  I  would  try  them  again,  and  fo  made 
an  excufe  to  go  into  the  room  for  fome  gingerbread, 
which  is  kept  in  a  clofet  clofe  by;  upon  this  one  of 
the  men  faiJ  to  me,  Landlord,  we  fhall  never  have 
peace  in  America  till  fomebody  ferves  General  Wa(h- 
ington  as  he  meant  to  ferve  the  plover  next  feafon. 

Court.      Did  the  others  hear  him  fay  this? 

Lawrence.  Yes  ;  and  feemed  to  wait  for  my  anfwer, 
I  told  them  by  way  of  drawing  out  of  them  all  I  could, 
(by  the  holinefs  of  my  oath  I  meant  nothing  more) 
I  told  them,  I  wifhed  things  were  as  they  ufed  to  be, 
but  I  did  not  fee  how  any  body  dared  to  flioot  fo 
great  a  man  as  the  General  ;  upon  this  the  man  with  a 
E  fnufFy 


a«e»»~~«SB5irP^- 


i^ 


(  i6  ) 

fnuffy  face,  jumped   up  and   faid   there  was  one  who 
could  do  that  eafy  enough ;   and  then  aflced   me  if  a 
good  fum   of  the  old  New-York   currency  would  not 
tempt  me   to  be  acceflary  ;/  /  was  Jure  no  harm  would 
happen  to  me?     I  afked,  where  the  New  York  currency 
was  to  come  from  ;   I  was  told  Mr.  Lott  had  referved 
7000I.  which  was   to  be  diftributed  among  thofe  who 
would  aflift.     I  faid,   afllft,   to  do  what  ?   they  faid,  to 
murder  General  Wafliington  and   all  the  Livingftons. 
Upon  this  I  faid,  that  his  Excellency  was  like  a  faint, 
and  the  Livingftons,   apoftles,  who  opened  the  eyes  of 
the  people   in  America,  and  that  I  (hould  be  afraid  of 
being  hanged   if  I   was  knowingly  to   hurt  a  hair  of 
their  heads ;  upon  this  the  Scotchman  ftirugged  up  his 
(houlders,  and  all  were  filent.     I  was  defired   to   ftep 
out,  but  they  foon  after  called  me   in   again,  and  one 
of  them  gave  me  ten  dollars  to  fwear  fecrecy,  which  I 
was  then  tempted  to  do,  but  am  now  forry  for  it. 

This  was  the  fubftance  of  the  evidence  given  in  by 
Mi".  Lawrence, 

Mr.  MacKeflbn  then  acquainted  the  committee,  that 
Jofeph  Finch  waited  at  the  door,  who  was  defirous  of 
giving  the  court  very  important  information.  The 
committee  ordered  him  in  accordirgly.  He  faid  if 
the  congrefs  would  fecure  him  from  injury  or  punifh- 
nient,  he  would  difclofe  matters  of  much  confequence. 
The  committee  pledged  their  honour  that  he  (hould 
be  fafe,  and  promifed  withal  a  confiderable  reward,  if 
he  was  open  and  clear  in  his  difcovery.  Finch  faid, 
he  was  a  joiner  by  profeflion,  and  was  working  at   the 

houfe 


(  17  ) 

houfe  of  Gerardus  Beekman,  commonly  called  Dr. 
Beekman,  who  being  in  a  good  humour,  he  was  called 
up  ftairs,  and  aflced  to  drink  fome  wine ;  the  dodlor 
called  him  a  damned  honeft  fellow,  chucked  him  under 
the  chin,  and  aflced  if  he  loved  his  Majefty ;  he  faid 
he  would  fhed  the  laft  drop  of  his  blood  for  him. 
The  dodlor  treated  him  with  a  bottle  of  what  he  called 
his  eight-year-old,  and  then  having  found  him  hearty 
in  the  caufe,  carried  him  to  the  Serjeant's  Arms. 

Prefident.     What  time  did  this  happen  ? 

Finch.     About  the  20th  of  May  laft. 

Prefident.  Do  you  remember  any  perfons  th.it  were 
prefent  ? 

Finch.  Yes.  There  was  Mr.  Henry  Fofter,  James 
Matthifon,  Nicholas  Antony,  Thomas  Degruftie, 
Henry  Carman,  and  many  others,  whom,  if  I  had 
time,  I  could  recoiled. 

Prefident.     What  was  the  fubjeft  of  converfation  ? 

Finch.  They  talked  much  that  night  againft  the 
cruelty  of  the  congrefs,  and  the  cowardice  and  infults 
of  the  New-England  men,  and  of  their  hopes  the 
former  government  would  be  foon  reftored. 

Prefident.  Go  on,  fir,  and  tell  us  what  you  deem 
moft  material. 

I  was  fent  fome  time  after  with  letters  to  different 
parts  of  the  country,  encouraging  them  to  union,  and 
conveying  money  for  purchafing  arms  and  ammunition. 

Prefident.     To  what  places  were  you  fent  ? 

Finch.  To  New  Rochel,  Poughkeepfey,  Weft  Chef- 
ter,  Albany,  and  many  other  places. 

Court. 


(   i8   ) 

Court.     To  what  perfons  were  the  letters  direfted  ? 

Finch.  I  cannot  at  prefent  mention  them  particularly, 
but  I  have  carried  fome  to  Thomas  Kiflicr,  John 
Amos,  James  Savage,  Samuel  Jenks,  and  many  others, 
with  whom  I  had  many  meetings,  and  much  furious 
converfation,  upon  public  affairs,  and  brought  their 
anfwers  back. 

The  committee  then  thought  proper  to  give  Mr. 
Finch  time  to  recolledl  himfelf,  and  appointed  three  of 
their  body  to  meet  him  the  next  morning,  in  order  to 
take  his  information  more  fully  and  deliberately. 

James    Ming  was    then    called    in,i  and  being  fworn, 

depofed. 

Ming.  I  am  by  trade  a  fhoemakcr,  and  live  in 
Carman-ftreet,  being  fent  for  one  day  to  Jacob  Duryee, 
after  paying  me  for  fome  work  I  had  done  for  the 
family,  Mr.  Duryee  afred  me  what  I  thought  of  the 
times.  I  told  him,  bad  enough.  He  faid  he  wifhcd 
there  never  had  been  a  congrefs  in  the  world  ;  I  told 
him  it  might  be  fo.  He  then  talked  much  to  me  of 
the  high  price  of  things,  and  aflced  me  if  I  did  not 
wifli  to  fee  the  good  old  times  again?  I  faid,  yes;  on 
which  he  gave  me  a  glafs  of  wine,  and  drank  to  the 
King  and  Parliament,  which  I  did  too.  He  then  told 
me  that  a  number  of  friends  to  England,  would  be 
glad  to  fee  me  or  any  other  honed  man,  on  whom  they 
could  depend.  I  told  him  I  would  never  aft  unhon- 
ourably.     He  defired  me   to   be  hufh,    and   he  would 

propofe 


(  19  ) 

propofe   me   to  be  a  member ;    that   it  fhould  coft  me 
nothing.     I  then  left  him,  and  went  home. 

Mr.  Curtenius.  Di.i  he  fay  nothing  to  you  concern- 
ing giving  aid  to  General  Howe,  or  information? 
Did'nt  you  imagine  that  was  what  he  meant,  when  he 
fpoke  of  the  friends  to  England  ? 

Ming.  No,  Sir,  not  at  that  time,  but  afterwards ;  if 
you  pleafe,  I'll  tell  the  whole  affair  as  it  happened. 
The  next  week  Mr.  Duryee  and  Mr.  Anthony  came 
to  me,  and  after  feeing  every  one  out  of  the  (hop,  told 
me  I  was  admitted  a  member  of  their  fociety.  I  went 
with  them  to  the  Serjeant's  Arms,  and  was  carried 
into  a  room  joining  to  the  room  where  the  fociety  met. 

Mr.  Byvanck.     Was  no  oath  tendered  to  you  ? 

Ming.  None  bit  an  aflbciation  paper  or  bond. 

Mr.  M'DougaL  Was  it  this  ?  (Clerk  hands  him 
the  aflbciation  found  among  Mr.  Forbes'  papers.) 

Ming.  Yes,  to  the  beft  of  my  knowledge  and  remem- 
brance, the  very  fame. 

Court.  What  perfons  were  at  the  meeting  ?  Do 
you  remember  the  tenor  of  the  converfation  ? 

Ming.  It  was  fomething  very  violent  againft  the 
congrefs,  and  about  reftoring  the  old  government. 

Couri.  Do  you  recoiled  any  thing  that  was  faid 
about  the  diftributing  arms,  giving  information  of  the 
proceedings  in  our  camp,  or  of  betraying  General 
Waihington  ? 

Ming.  I  can't  fay  anything  to  that.  I  heard  no 
particulars. 

William 


i  i 


i 


if 


[    1 


(    20    ) 

William  Cooper,  foldier,  fworn. 

Court.  Inform  us  what  converfation  you  heard  at 
the  Serjeant's  Arms  ? 

Cooper.  Being  there  the  21ft  of  May,  I  heard  John 
Clayford  inform  the  company,  that  Mary  Gibbons 
was  thoroughly  in  their  intereft,  and  that  the  v. hole 
would  be  fafe.  I  learnt  from  enquiry  that  Mary 
Gibbons  was  a  girl  from  New  Jerfey,  of  whom  General 
Wafhington  was  very  fond,  that  he  maintained  her 
genteelly  at  a  houfe  near  Mr.  Skinner's, —  at  the 
North  River;  that  he  came  there  very  often  late  at 
night  in  difguife ;  he  learnt  alfo  that  this  woman  was 
very  intimate  with  Clayford,  and  made  him  prefents, 
and  told  him  of  what  General  Wafhington  faid. 

Court.  Did  you  hear  Mr.  Clayford  fay  any  thing 
himfelf  that  night  ? 

Cooper.  Yes;  that  he  was  the  day  before  with  Judith, 
fo  he  called  her,  and  that  (lie  told  him,  Wafhington 
had  often  faid  he  wiflied  his  hands  were  clear  of  the 
dirty  New-Englanders,  and  words  to  that  effeft. 

Court.  Did  you  hear  no  mention  made  of  any 
fcheme  to  betray,  or  feize  him  ? 

Cooper.  Mr.  Clayford  faid  he  could  eafily  be  feized 
and  put  on  board  a  boat,  and  carried  off,  as  his  female 
friend  had  promifed  fhe  would  ailifl  :  but  all  prefent 
thought  it  would  be  hazardous. 

William  Savage,  fworn. 
Court.    Was  you  at  the  Serjeant's  Arms  on  the  2ifl 
of  May  ?     Did  you  hear  any  thing  of  this  nature  ? 

Savage. 


(    21     ) 

Savage.  I  did,  and  nearly  as  the  laft  evidence  has 
declared  ;  the  fociety  in  general  refufed  to  be  concerned 
in  it,  and  thought  it  a  mad  fcheme. 

Mr.  Abeel.  Pray,  Mr.  Savage,  have  not  you  heard 
nothing  of  an  information  that  was  to  be  given  to 
Governor  Tryon  ? 

Savage.  Yes;  papers  and  letters  were  at  different 
times  fhewn  to  the  fociety,  which  were  taken  out  of 
General  Wafliington's  pockets  by  Mrs.  Gibbons,  and 
given  (as  (he  pretended  fome  occafion  of  going  out)  to 
Mr.  Clayford,  who  always  copied  them,  and  they 
were  put  into  his  pockets  again. 

Court.     What  was  done  with  thefe  papers  ? 

Savage.  They  were  read  at  the  table,  copied,  and 
fent  off. 

Court.  Where  were  they  fent?  and  by  what  convey- 
ance ? 

Savage.  They  were  given  to  Mr.  Matthews,  who 
fent  them  on  board  the  Duchefs  of  Gordon. 

Court.  Had  they  no  other  accounts  but  thofe  com- 
municated by  Mrs.  Gibbons. 

Savage.  Yes ;  many  ^.ther  papers  and  letters  were 
read,  and  I  was  told  they  had  information  by  an 
officer,  a  gentleman  of  high  rank  and  diftindlion,  near 
General  Wafliington,  and  in  his  confidence. 

Court.     Could  you  find  out  who  he  was  ? 

Anjwer.  No. 

Court.  By  whom  was  his  intelligence  communi- 
cated ? 

Savage.     By  Mr.  Vanderbergh. 

Court. 


(    22    ) 

Court.     You  cannot  give  any  reafon  to  fufpeft  what 

officer  it  was? 

Savage.  No  ;  I  could  not  learn  who  it  was  ;  but 
was  often  told  that  he  was  a  gentleman  in  whom 
General  Walhington  placed  great  confidence,  and  re- 
lied much  upon. 

The  Court  ordered  him  to  withdraw,  and  the  room 

to  be  cleared. 

Mr.  LhMJlon.  In  my  opinion,  gentlemen,  we 
had  better  defer  examining  any  more  witneffes  till  we 
can  confult  General  Wafliington,  and  feme  other 
officers,  upon  what  has  appeared. 

Mr  Scott.  I  think  we  have  no  time  for  delay,  we 
may  run  through  an  examination  of  the  witnefles,  as 
this  court  is  an  independent  r>„e,  for  the  good  of  the 
public,  and  no  time  ffiould  be  loft  in  coming  at  the 
bottom  of  this  horrid  affair. 

Court.  It  would  be  but  juftice  to  the  General,  as 
he  is  fome  way  affedted  by  the  laft  witneffes  to  apprize 
him  of  it,  and  confult  with  him,  in  the  mean  time  the 
other  fufpefted   persons  (hould  be  feized  as  fpeedily 

as  poffible. 

The  court  accordingly  adjourned  till  the  26th. 

During  this  interval  the  committee  had  many  confer- 
ences on  the  fubjcft  with  General  Wa(hington,  and 
many  other  officers.  They  had  alfo  private  examina- 
tions of  the  prifoncrs.  Orders  were  ilTued  to  fcize  the 
perfons  of  John  Wiley,  Norman  Ptolomy.  I  otten 
and  Crofsfield ;  and  information  being  given  that  a 
number  of  the  confpirators  were  concealed  at  and  near 

Jamaica, 


(   23   ) 

Jamaica,  Long  Ifland,  a  party  of  horfe  were  ordered 
to  take  them,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Willett. 
When  they  reached  Jaii  aica,  they  found  the  confpira- 
tors,  to  the  number  of  eighteen,  had  retired  to  a  wood 
on  the  top  of  a  hill,  determined  to  defend  themfelves. 
Captain  Willett  got  a  fmall  reinforcement,  and  then 
furrounded  the  eminence  where  they  were  ported;  a 
brifk  fire  enfued  as  our  people  approached,  and  they 
obftinatcly  continued  to  refift,  till  having  loft  one  man, 
and  others  being  dangeroufly  wounded  and  difabled, 
they  thought  proper  to  furrender,  and  were  brought 
prifoners  to  New  York. 

June  29.  The  congrefs  taking  into  ferious  confidera- 
tion  the  number  of  difafFefted  perfons  in  the  province, 
and  the  danger  of  keeping  them  in  the  city,  thought 
fit  to  fend  two  hundred  of  them  into  Connediicut,  to 
be  kept  in  the  different  prifons  till  they  could  be 
brought  conveniently  to  trial. 

It  having  appeared  from  ftrong  evidence  and  many 
circumftances,  that  David  Matthews,  Efq.,  Mayor  of 
the  City,  was  an  aider  and  abetter  of  the  confpiracy, 
and  alfo  the  principal  manager  of  an  illegal  correfpond- 
ence,  he  was  feized  by  order  of  the  provincial  congrefs, 
and  committed  to  the  New  Goal ;  on  the  3d  of  July, 
the  committee  again  met,  and  ordered  James  Clayford 
to  be  brought  before  them. 

The  prifoner  being  at  the  bar  and  fworn, 

Mr.  Mott  told  him,  by  order  of  this  committee,  I 

inform  you  that  we  have  the  cleareft  evidence  of  your 

F  having 


(  24-  ) 

having  been   treacheroufly  concerned,  in  obtaining  in- 
formation and  papers  relating  to  public  affairs,  which 
you  delivered  to  certain  perfons  to  be  conveyed  to  the 
e.iemy;    that   in    privacy  and   covenant    with    Mary 
G.bbons,  you   felonioufly  and  fecretly  copied  writings 
of  the  commander  in  chief,  which  were  afterwards  fent 
to  be  communicated  to  the  foes  of  America;  that  you 
.n  your  heart  conceived   and  propofed  a  plan   to  feize 
on  the  perfon  of  General  Washington,  and  carry  him 
off  as  a  pnfoner  to   the  mercenary  army.     What  have 
you    to   anfwer   to   thefe   charges,    or  to   fay  why  you 
niould  not  be  made  an  example  of? 

Pri/oner.  I  labour  under  every  difadvantage.  hav- 
ing no  one  to  fpeak  for  me.  and  not  being  tried  by 
a  jury,  but  I  have  confidence  in  the  humanity  of 
th,s  court- Do  not  be  fevere  with  me.  gentle- 
men, nor  /bed  the  blood  of  an  innocent  man.  I 
beg  that  I  may  hear  the  evidences  againft  me  examined 
before  my  face. 

Mr.  Mulli,en.     You   do  not  defervt   fuch  a  favor 
we  are  well  fatisfied  of  your  guilt,  and  that  you  ough; 
long  ago  to  have  fuffered  your  deferts 

Mr.  Abed.  I  think  it  will  not  take  much  time  to 
re-exam,ne  the  witneffes.  not  that  I  have  any  doubt  of 
h.s  gu,  t.  but  to  give  him  no  caufe  of  complaint  at  our 
proceedings. 

The  committee  agreed  to  it,  and  James  Myer. 
Thomas  Lefferts.  and  Peter  Goff  were  fworn.  TheJ 
depofed  what  has  been  before  related,  that  theprifoner 
often  attended  the  meeting  of  the  confpirators,  at  the 

Serjeant's 


(  25  ) 

Serjeant's  Arms,  and  that  he  ufed  frequently  to  boaft 
of  his  amours  with  Mrs.  Gibbons ;  that  he  propofed 
with  ;his  woman's  afTiftance  to  feize  General  Wafhing- 
ton's  perfon,  and  carry  him  off;  that  he  frequently 
brought  papers  and  letters  of  the  General's  to  the  fo- 
ciety,  which  were  copied  and  fent  away. 

Prifoner.  Remember,  Mr.  Goff,  you  are  upon  oath, 
and  that  my  life  depends  on  it.  As  to  my  conneftion 
with  Mrs.  Gibbons  I  do  not  deny  it,  but  never  was 
concerned  in  any  confpiracy.  You  muft  know,  Mr. 
Goff,  that  I  only  faid  at  the  fociety,  that  fuch  a  thing 
as  feizing  General  Wafhington  might  be  done,  but  I 
never  agreed  to  or  thought  of  doing  it,  nor  did  any 
perfon  prefent  propofe  or  advife  it. 

Goff.  Yes  ;  you  often  propofed  it,  and  offered 
your  fervice,  and  faid  Mrs.  Gibbons  would  affift  ;  and 
they  applauded  it,  and  drank  your  health. 

Mr.  Byvank.  Have  you  nothing  farther  to  fay  in 
your  defence  ? 

Prifoner.  I  have  been  treated  cruelly,  tried  without 
judge  or  jury  ;  it's  nothing  but  a  fcheme  to  punilh 
the  innocent,  and  get  clear  of  honeft  people. 

Court.  It  is  our  opinion  that  you  are  guilty,  and 
you  are  to  be  re-manded  to  the  goal  from  whence  you 
came,  and  we  recommend  to  you  to  prepare  for  that 
death  you  deferve,  and  to  which  you  are  condemned 
by  the  authority  of  your  country. 

The  prifoner  was  then  very  abufive,  calling  the 
court  tyrants  and  murderers,  but  the  guard  hurried 
him  away. 

July 


■m 


f:    I 


I  I 


>  'i 


( 26 ) 

>/y  6      The   congrcfs    received    an   account    from 
Albany,  that  a  body  of  Tories  were   detect  ■'  I-.  ^  .... 
.    %"  of  finng  the  town,  and  blowing  up  tl  •      Z 

and  that  feme  of  the  principal  perfons  ,n   ,„      nuurv 
were  concerned   in    it.     U  appears   that  they  have   a 
correfpondence  through  the  whole  province  and  neigh- 
bour.ng  colon.es,  and  propofed  to  rife  and  make  them- 
felves  mafters  of  the   fortrefTbs.  and   dif.rn,  their  ene- 
mies     Many  of  them  were  feized  in  Albany,  but  they 
would  make  no  confeHion,  and  were  thrown  into  goal 
Scouts  and    parties  were  fent   out  in    every  countV  to 
watch   and    fecure  the  infurgents,   about   ninety   have 
been   taken   in  Albany  and  its   neighborhood,   'jtan- 
pearecl    that   a  body   of  hYty    Tories   rofc   at   Poug  - 
keepfey.   a.ul   attempted   to  di(lu-m   our  friends,    but 
after  an  obft.nate  engagement,  in  which   five  of  them 

were  k.lled,  the  reft  were  taken  prifoners,  and  fent  t 
Ruigefield.  The  congrefs  tak.ng  thefe  tlungs  into 
mature  del.beration.  refolved  that  fome  ex^.mplcs 
fl;ou  d  be  made,  and  accordingly  ordered  that  James 
Clayford  under  condemnation,  ft^ould  be  fpcedily 
executed.  t^^uuy 

7«fy  7-     The  committee   met,  and   ordered   Da\  id 
Mathews.  late  Mayor  of  the  city  to  be  brought  before 

Mr.  Mathews  being  brought  in,  caft  a  look  of  con- 
tempt  on  the  court,  and  afferted  to  treat  it  with  deri- 
lion. 

Present.  We  fit  here  by  the  authority  of  the  peo- 
ple   to    enquire    into  a  moft  horrid  confpiracy,   with 

powers 


(  27   ) 

powers  to  acquit  or  punifli,  as  evidence  (hall  appear. 
You  are  charged,  Sir,  with  being  a  principal  advifer  and 
abettor  of  fchenies  againft  your  country ;  we  have 
evidence  of  your  having  attended  an  unlawful  meet- 
ing, aflbciated  for  the  purpofe  of  overturning  the  pre- 
fent  conftitution,  and  introducing  the  old  tyranny.  It 
appears  that  you  have  kept  up  a  correfpondence  with 
men  adjudged  enemies  to  this  country,  and  have  diftri- 
buted  money  in  order  to  procure  intelligence  for 
them.  If  you  have  anything  to  fay,  we  are  ready  to 
hear  it. 

Prifoner.  This  is  a  new  mode  of  trial  to  hurry  a 
man  to  prifon  without  letting  him  know  his  crime,  to 
fei/e  his  papers  and  put  armed  men  into  his  houfe, 
and  then  examine  him  in  a  private  manner,  without 
a  jury  of  his  peers,  or  giving  him  any  information  of 
his  accufers,  or  allowing  him  to  prepare  for  his  de- 
fence. I  fcorn  your  mercy,  and  am  ready  to  fufFer 
for  my  King  and  country. — If  I  am  to  undergo  the 
formality  of  a  trial,  let  it  be  in  the  accuftomed  manner, 
by  a  jury. 

Mr.  Mac  Dougal.  Sir,  we  are  ready  to  do  you  all 
the  juilice  you  can  afk  ;  but  we  exped  not  to  be  bullied 
and  cavaliered  in  this  manner.  We  have  told  you 
the  authority  by  which  we  ad:,  and  if  you  chufe  to  ex- 
amine any  witneiTes,  or  make  a  defence  we  are  ready 
to  hear  it. 

Prifoner.  I  am  fenfible  all  defence  will  be  vain  with 
men  thirfting  after  blood.  How  many  fathers  have 
you  already  torn  from   their  families  and  thrown  into 

prifon, 


if 


fl 


II! 


■f 


(    28    ) 

prifon,  only  for  difference  of  fentiment  ?     If  my  prin- 
ciples are  my  crime,  I  never  made   a  fecret  of  being  a 
friend    to    the    King   and    conftitution.      You    know 
yourfelves  that  the  confpiracy  you   talk  of  is   a  mere 
pretence  to  punifh.     The  people  you  have  thrown  into 
pnfon  were  guilty  of  no  other  mifdeeds  than  meeting 
in  a  focal  manner,  and  expreffing   their  wifhes  for  the 
reftorafon   of  the  old   conftitution  ;    they  could  not 
hurt  you,  when  you  are  furrounded  with  fo  formidable 
an  army  m  your  fervice  :  they  never  were  mad  enough 
to  attempt  fo  wild  a  project.     All    they  have  done  is 
to  declare  their  opinions  freely,  during  the  opennefs 
of  focab.l.ty  and  wine.      I   am   fenfible  of  no   other 
proceedings  of  the  fociety,  and  am  privy  to  no  fcheme 
of   fo    mad    and    improbable   a    nature.     You    muft 
therefore  ufe  your  pleafure,   for  I  cannot   in  my  con- 
fcence  admit  of  any  authority  in  this  body,  to  try  and 
confine,  or  punilh  any  fubjedl  of  England. 

Court  Call  in  the  evidences;  if  Mr.  Matthews 
does  chufe  to  afk  them  any  queftions,  the  court  will 
hear  them    again    and    give  him  a  full   opportunity. 

Peter  Goff,  were  fworn-They  depofed  that  they  had 
often  feen  the  prifoner  very  adtive  at  the  meeting  of 
theconlp.rators;  that  the  papers  given  to  the  fociety 
by  Clayford,  were  put  into  his  hands  to  be  communi- 
cated to  the  enemy.  That  he  often  diftributed  money 
among  the  members,  and  encouraged  them  in  their 
oppofitionto  the  congrefs :  that  thev  heard  him  on 
the  20th  of  May  fay,  that   the  day  wa;  not  far  diftant 

when 


(   29  ) 

when  the  bodies  of  the  congrefs  would  be  food  for 
crows,  that  he  often  called  the  congrefs  tyrants,  and 
exhorted  the  members  to  union,  patience,  and  fidelity. 

Pri/cner.  I  would  not  be  underftood  to  acknow- 
lege  the  authority  of  this  committee,  but  I  muft  not 
even  here,  for  I  would  no  where  elfe,  fufFer  an  aft  of 
charity  to  be  perverted.  I  attended  thefe  meetings,  I 
do  not  deny,  out  of  affedlion  to  the  conftitution,  but 
never  had  any  notion  fo  abfurd  as  a  confpiracy,  to  be 
managed  and  conduced  at  a  tavern,  in  the  hearing  of 
waiters  and  promifcuous  company  :  the  money  I  diftri- 
buted  was  only  out  of  benevolence,  and  in  pity  for 
the  diftrefs  of  many  of  the  members,  who  are  honeft 
men  ruined  by  the  times.  I  hope  the  congrefs  will 
not  call  this  treafon.  I  hope  they  wilt  not  call  it 
treafon  for  us  to  meet  and  confult  together  for  the 
fupport  of  our  families,  this  is  all  the  treafon  we  have 
meant,  to  auin.   each  other,  to  contribute  and  comfort 

thofe  friends  to  government  who  were  in  want . 

(Here  the  court  interrupted  him. 

Court.  If  you  have  nothing  more  worthy  of  our 
attention  to  offer  but  fuch  abufe  and  bare-faced  falla- 
cies, we  muft  order  you  back  to  the  place  from  whence 
you  came.  We  are  convinced  of  your  guilt,  and  re- 
commend you  to  make  a  confeffion  and  repent  of 
your  crimes.  Your  confeffion  may  entitle  you  not 
only  to  mercy,  but  if  you  difcover  fincerify  in  your 
reformation,  a  perfon  of  your  ftation  and  influence, 
may  exped  every  favour  from  your  country. 

Prijoner.     I    can    receive    no    favour   on    any  fuch 

difhonourable 


^1 


!  :| 


(30) 

diflionourable  conditions.  I  avow  my  principles,  and 
(hall  never  fwerve  from  them-,  but  I  would  entreat 
you  to  have  fome  pity  (not  on  me)  but  on  the  num- 
berlefs  helplefs  families  that  you  expofe  to  ruin,  by 
carrying  away  their  innocent  fathers,  huftiands,  and 
brothers.  I  only  a(k  you  for  myfelf  to  give  me  an 
interview  with  General  Washington,  from  him  I  may 
expedl  the  treatment  of  a  gentleman. 

Court.  You  have  been  ufed  with  juftice  and  civility. 
If  you  have  nothing  f  t-ther  to  fay,  let  the  guards 
convey  him  into  fafe  cuftody,  and  give  him  every 
thing  convenient. 

July  8th.  The  provincial  congrefs  having  received 
the  report  of  the  committee,  came  to  a  refolution  that 
David  Matthews,  late  mayor  of  the  city,  having  been 
fully  convidled,  and  proved  guilty  of  treafonable 
praaices,  tending  to  the  fubverfion  of  our  prefent 
happy  government,  deferves  no  longer  to  live,  and  is 
therefore  fentenced  to  fuffer  death  as  a  common  male- 
faftor,  on  the  25th  day  of  Auguft  next. 

Auguft  I.  The  congrefs  in  full  meeting  refolved  to 
poftpone  the  execution  of  the  fentence  pafied  on  David 
Matthews,  Efq.,>«^  die,  and  ordered  him  to  be  carried 
into  Connefticut,  there  to  be  kept  imprifoned  'till 
further  orders. 

The  trial  of  the  other  prifoners  was  alfo  deferred, 
and  ftrict  commands  given  to  deteft,  and  purfue  fuch 
as  were  ftill  concealed,  that  they  might  be  preferved 
in  fafe  cuftody  till  ti.e  times  would  render  it  conve- 
nient to  bring  them  to  trial. 

FINIS. 


NOTES 


t 


m 


NOTES. 


Page  5.      Loufy,  dirty,  vermin  of  New  England. 


1 ; 


I  HI'"  antipathy  prevailing  between  the  Southern  and  Eaftern 
troops,  had  been  the  caufe  of  a  court-martial,  of  which 
I  was  a  member,  upon  the  conduft  of  Lieutenant  Stewart 
of  Smallwood's  regiment,  better  known  by  his  fubfequent  title  of  Major 
Jack  "Stewart.  He  had  been  arrclled  by  General  Silliman,  on  account  of 
fome  alleged  difrefpcft  or  difobedience  to  that  officer.  As  the  majority  of 
the  court  were  Southern  men,  it  was  not  at  all  wonderful  that  Stewart  was 
foon  acqui'.ted  with  honor.  In  lb  contemptible  a  light  were  the  New- 
England  men  regarded,  that  it  was  fcarcely  held  poffible  to  conceive  a 
cafe,  which  could  be  conilrucd  into  a  reprchcnfibic  difrefpcft  of  them. 
Thinking  fo  highly  as  I  now  do  of  the  gentlemen  01  tins  country,  the 
recolledlion  is  painful,  but  the  faft  mull  not  be  diflembled.  Even  the 
celebrated  General  Putnam,  riding  with  a  hanger  belted  acrofs  his  brawney 
fliouli!';rs,  over  a  waiUcoat  without  fleeves  (his  summer  collume),  was 
deemed  much  litter  to  head  a  band  of  ficklemen  or  ditchers,  than  mufket- 
cers.  He  might  be  brave,  and  had  ccrtanly  an  honeft  manlinefs  about 
him ;  but  it  was  thought,  and  perhaps  with  realbn,  that  he  was  not  what 
the  time  required.  We  had  a  regular  army  to  oppofc  and  this  could  only 
be  done  by  dil'cipline  and  regular  foldierlhip." — Graydtn,  178-9,  ed. 
1846. 

"  However, 


msm 


(  34  ) 


>  i 


M  ! 


"However,  as  they  [Provincials]  (efpeciallv  the  Connefticut  foldiers. 
whom  feme  pronounce  the  dirtieft   people  on   the  Continent)  are   not 
particularly  attentive  to  cleanlinefs,  the  owners  of  the  houfes  where  they 
■arc  quartered,  if  they  ever  get  podbflion  of  thcni.  mull  be  years  in  dcar- 
mg  them,  unlefs  they  get  new  floors,  and  new  plallcr  the  walls."     "  The 
particular  jealoufics  and   prejudices  of  the  continental   troops  from  the 
different  ftates,  led   them  frequently  to   throw  out  reflcdions   tending  to 
irritate  each  other  and  injure  the  common  caufe  j  fo  that  the  commander- 
m-chief  interpofed  his  influence  to  fupprcfs  it  by  general  orders  [Aug.  i, 
1776]."     "  A  brigadier  writes  concerning  the  animofity  in  the  Amcricaii 
arn,y  above  noticed.     '  It  has  already  rifcn   to  fuch   a   height,   that   the 
Pcnnlylvania  and  New-England   troops  would  as  foon  fight  each  other  as 
the  c.cmy.     Oflicers  of  all   ranks  arc  indifcriminately  treated  in  a  moft 
contemptible  manner,  and  whole  colonies  traduced  and  vilified  as  cheats, 
knaves,  cowards,  poltroons,  hypocrites,  and  every  term  of  reproach,  for 
no  other  reafon.  but  becaufe  they  are  fiiuated  eaft  of  New-York.     Every 
honor  is  paid  to  the  merit  of  good  men  from   thcfcuth;   the  merit,  if 
fuch  be  poflible.  from  the  north  is  uot  acknowledged;  but  if  too  apparent 
to    be    blalled    with    falfehood.    is    carefully  buried   in    oblivion.     The 
cowardice  or  mi.Vhaviour  of  the   (outh   is  carefully  covered  over,  the 
leart  mifcondua  in   the  gcnilemcn  of  the  north  is  publiflicd  with  Lrgc 
comments  and  aggravations.' "—G<ir</»;;,  11,  49,  cd.  N.  Y.  ,789,  r/jef. 


Page  6.     Death  of  Montgomery. 

GENERAL  MONTGOMERY  was  born  in  the  north  of  Jrcland 
in  1737.  and  was  in  the  Engliih  army  with  Wolfe  at  Quebec. 
In  1772.  he  quitted  the  army,  fettled  in  America,  and  married  a  daughter 
of  R.  R.  Livingfton.  On  the  opening  of  holUliiics  with  the  mother 
country,  he  cfpoufcd  the  cause  of  the  colonics,  and  fell  at  Quebec 
December  31.  1775, 

"  Every  mark  of  diftinftion  was  fliown  to  the  corpfe  of  General  Mont- 
gomery, who  was  interred  in  Quebec  on  the  2nd  of  Januaiy.  1 776.  In 
1818,  his  body  was  removed,  in  accordance  with  an  ad  of  the  New- 
York  Legiflaturc,  and  rc-intcrrcd  at  St.  Paul's  churchyard  in  New  York 
city.''— Z>/rtr)'  Rtveluthn,  1,  186. 


(35  ) 


"  On  the  Death  of  General  Montgomery. 

BY    BRYAN    EDWARDS. 

Montgomery  falls !  let  no  fond  bread  repine 

That  Hampden's  glorioui  death,  brave  chief,  was  thine. 

With  his  (hall  Freedom  confecrate  thy  name — 

Shall  date  her  rifing  glories  from  thy  fame — 

Shall  build  her  throne  of  empire  on  thy  grave — 

What  nobler  fate  can  patriot  virtues  crave  !  '* 

— New  Foundling  Hojpitalfir  Wit,  ed.  1786,  vol.  vi,  p.  7. 


Page  7.     Carpenter'"!  Hall. 
^^y  HERE  the  congreis  was  fitting  in  Philadelphia. 


Page  7.     Donald  Campbell, 

WAS  Quarterinafter  General  to  the  army  of  the  north,  and  with 
Montgomery  at  (;)uebcc ;  upon  that  general's  death,  he  afllimed 
command,  and  ordered  a  retreat,  leaving  behind  him  fifteen  dead  bodies 
of  the  detachment,  among  whom  was  that  of  Montgomery  himfelf.  His 
condiift  was  "  anathematized  in  unmeafured  terms,"  and  all  afcribed  to 
him  the  failure  of  an  expedition  well  planned,  and  which  certainly,  by 
one  portion  of  the  army,  had   been  efficiently  executed. — Lamb'i  Me- 


Page  20.     General  IFaJhington, 

TO  the  following  ftanza  from  "  God  Save  the  King  I  "  by  Stanf- 
bury,  and  to  be  found  in  the  "  Loyai  Verfes  of  Stanjbury  and 
Qdeli,  Albany,  i860.  "That  admirable  fcholar,  the  editor,  Mr.  Win- 
throp  Sargent,  has  appended  a  note  fo  comprchcnfive,  that  it  is  given 
almoll  entire,  herewith. 

"  Time 


f! 


(36 ) 


*  I 


"  Time  was,  in  defence  ol' his  King  and  the  Right, 
We  applauded  brave  Walhington  forenioll  in  tight; 
On  the  banl<s  of  Ohio  he  rtiouted  luftily 

God  Cave  the  King ! 
Difappointed  ambition  his  feet  has  milled; 
Corrupted  his  heart  and  perverted  his  head  : 
Loyal   no  lunger,  no  more  he  cries  faithfully 

Glory  and  joy  crown  the  King  !  " 

"  To  caft  a  flur  on  the  charaiftcr  of  Wadiitigton  would,  to-day,  be  the 
ni\,  it"  of  ail  American,  of  a  very  filly  or  a  very  diPioneft  man.  The 
latitiuic  of  parly  heats  and  pcrfonal  rivalries  permitted  a  lefs  rellrained 
conduft  during  his  life-time.  The  Tories  had  iurely  feme  cxcufe  for 
fpeaking  bitterly  of  the  only  man  by  whom  the  American  armies  could 
have  been  l.d  to  \idory  and  independence;  for  tlic  vanquifhed  party  has 
in  all  times  polTelT.-d  at  leall  the  privilege  of  murmuring  againft  its  con- 
queror. But  it  mull  not  be  forgotten  that  long  before  and  long  after  the 
war,  as  well  «■=  througli  its  continuance,  VVafliington  was  the  objcft  of 
the  envy  and  calumny  of  others  than  the  adherents  of  the  F.nglifli  crown. 
The  earlieil  public  outrage  ottered  to  his  charader,  appears  in  the  official 
Memoire,  fent  in  1756,  by  Louis  X\'.  to  the  other  fovercigns  of  Europe, 
in  which,  referring  to  Walhingtv  n's  Ohio  expedition  and  the  death  of 
Jiunonville,  in  1 754,  he  says :  "  1! p,iruit  que  I'lmpofliire  rie  coi'/te  ricn  a 
M.  Wtijbington ;  ici  i!  I'cn  fait  honneur."  It  is  amufing  to  find  that 
Beaumarchais  in  1779,  replying  to  (jibbon's  rtatement  and  jullify'.ng  the 
aid  given  by  F'rancc  to  .America,  heads  his  lill  of  outrages  cxercifed  by 
England  with  this  charge  of  airallination !  He  did  not  know  that  the 
falfehood  hit  the  chief  uf  the  Ameiican?,  inllead  of  the  Rnglilli  court. 
Perhaps  the  original  alTertion  by  a  foe  of  this  bold  llander  "  may  be  for- 
given, though  it  cannot  be  applauded  :  "  but  its  repetition  was  untbriu- 
nate  on  the  lips  of  a  friend.  But  the  friends  of  America  in  the  war  were 
not  all  friends  of  Walhingtin.  His  appearance  in  unit'orm  in  the  con- 
grcfs  of  17/5,  and  the  military  experience  he  had  acquired,  undoubtedly 
familiarized  the  minus  of  I'ome  members  wiih  the  idea  of  his  nomination 
to  be  connnander  of  the  army  ;  but  the  confent  of  many  ot  the  delegates 
to  this  appointment  was  only  extorted  by  the  ncceflities  of  the  cafe,  and 
was  a  Iburce  "of  real  regret  in  nearly  one-half  of  the  gentlemen  who 

made 


(  Zl  ) 


made  It.     A  number  of  the  nienibers  were  for  Mr.  Hancock  ;  more  were 
for  Charles  Lee ;  many  for  Waniington ;  but  the  greatcft  number  were 
for  Artemas  Ward.     There  is  room,   however,  for   the  inference  that 
there  was  no  defire  on  the  part  of  a  majority  to   maintain  at  the  conti- 
nental expcnfc  a  New-England  army,  with  New  England  officers,  to  fight 
New  England  battles  on  New-England  foil.     There  was  a  fouthern  party 
againrt  a  northern  ;   "  and  fo  many  of  our  ftaunchcll  men,"  says  Adams, 
"  were  in  the  plan,  that  wc  could  carry  nothing  without  conceding  to  it. 
Another  cmbarraflment,  which   was  never  publicly  known,  and  which 
was   carefully  concealed   by  thofe  who   l-.iew   it,    the   MaiTachufctts   and 
other   New-England   delegates  were   divided.     Mr.    Hancock  and   Mr. 
Cuniing  hung  back  ;  Mr.  Paine  did  not  come  forward,  and  even  Mr. 
Samuel  Adams  was  irrcfokite.     Mr.  Hancock,  himfclf,  had   an  ambition 
to  be  appointed  commander-in-chief.      •      •      •     •     when  1  came  to 
defcribe  Wadiington  for  the  commander,  I  never  marked  a  more  ftriking 
and  hidden  change  of  countenance.      Mortification  and  refentmcnt  were 
cxprelTed  as  forcibly  as  his  (Hancock's)  face  could  exhibit  them."     Mr. 
C.  F.  Adams  adds,  that  neither  Hancock  nor  Ward  was  ever  afterwards 
cordial  towards  Walhington.     Nor  were  the  Virginia  delegates  unanimous 
in    his    favor:    "particularly   Mr.    Pendleton  was  very  clear   and    full 
againll  it."      When  the  quellion  was  debated,  there  was  a  warm  oppofi- 
tion  to  Wafliington  ;  on  public,  however,  and  not  on  any  perfonal  grounds. 
Pendleton,  Sherman,   Culliing,  and    feveral   others  joined   in   it,   fearing 
"  dilcontcnts  in  the  army  and  in  New-England."     This  army,  it  mull  be 
recolkacd,  co.ifilted  at  that  time   almoll  entirely  of  the  men  railed  by 
and  in  New  England,  and  gathered  before  Bollon.      ***** 
"  Long  after  the  peace,   [ohn  Jay  faid  that   in  the  congrefs  of  the 
Revolution  there  was  always,  from  firft  to  lall,  a  moll  bitter  party  againft 
Walhington.     What  were  the  various  motives  of  its   members,  it  is  im- 
pollible  to  fay,  lintc  their  names  even  cannot,  with  fullnels  and  accuracy, 
be  now  afcertained.     It   is  but   fair,  however,   to   give  the   b-jnefit  of  a 
doubt,  and  to  fuppole  that  it  was  an  apprehenfion  of  the  cfted  « liich  fo 
much  power  and  popularity  might  have  on  his  ambition.     The  future  was 
as  yet  unfeen  ;  and  many  men  knew  not  what  would  be  the  conlequences 
of  the  attainment  of  independence.     "  The  fubjug.ition  of  my  country," 
faid  Edward  Biddlc,  whole  declining  health  had  compelled  him  to  forego 

the 


(  38  ) 


I  ; 


the  influence  his  talents  would  have  given  him  as  delegate  in  congrcfs 
from  Pennfylvania,  "  I  deprecate  as  a  moft  grievous  calamity  ;  and  yet 
ficken  at  the  idea  of  thirteen,  unconneacd,  petty  democracies ;  if  we 
are  to  be  independent,  let  us,  in  the  name  of  GoJ,  at  once  have  an  em- 
pire, and  place  lFaJhi„gton  at  the  head  of  it."  But  this  idea  was  not 
pleafmg  to  our  people,  whofe  experience  of  the  benefit  of  monarchy  was 
not  great,  and  very  few  of  whom  had  ever  been  diftinguifhed  by  any 
royal  favor ;  or,  as  an  Englifli  verfificr  fang : 

Poor  loft  America,  high  honours  milfing, 

Knows  nought  of  fmilc  and  nod,  and  Iwcet  hand-klfling  : 

Knows  nought  of  golden  promilcs  of  kings  ; 

In  folitude  the  lovely  rebel  fighs  ! 
But  vainly  drops  the  penitential  tear  — 

Deaf  as  the  adder  to  the  woman's  cries. 
We  furtcr  not  her  wail  to  wound  our  ear :  ^ 

For  food,  we  bid  her  hopelefs  children  prowl. 
And  with  the  favage  of  the  defcrt  howl. 

But  fuch  "  fears  of  the  brave  and  follies  of  the  wile"  are  incident  to 
human  nature;  and  the  jcaloufy  of  Walhi.igton  may  have  in  fome  cales 
been  connected  with  honelt  though  blind  judgments.     It  was  a  public 
bleffing.  thought  Adams,  that  the  glorious  defence  of  the  Delaware  forts, 
in  1777,  was  "not  immediately  due   to  the  commander-in-chiet,  nor  to 
fouthe'rn  troops.     If  it  had  Ix'cn.  idolatry  and  adulation  would  have  been 
unbounded;   fo  exceflive  as  to  endanger  our  liberties,   for  what  I  know. 
Now,  we  can  allow  a  certain  citizen  to  be  wife,  virtuous  and  good  with- 
out thinking  him  a  deity  or  a  faviour."     It  was  in  the  fame  year  that  the 
writer  took  fire  in  congrels  at  the  Icntimcnts  entertained  tor  the  general 
by  certain   members:     "  I  am  dillrcfll-d  to   find   fome  of  our   members 
dilpolld   to  idolize  an  image  which   their  own   hands   have  molten,     I 
fpeak  of  the  fupcrftitious  veneration  which  is  paid  to  General  Wafiiington. 
1  honour  him  for  his  good  qualities,  but   in  this  houfe,  I  feel  mylelt   his 
fupcrior.     In  private  lite,  I   Ihall  always   acknowledge  him  to  be  mine. 
The  A;^r;/againll  Walhington  was  never  more  violent  than  at  this  time, 
and  probably  debate   ran  higl    and  warm  language  was  ufed   on  either 
fide  ;   and   his  enemies,  if  we  may  rely  on  the   following  anecdote,  were 
more  powerful  in  the  council  chamber  than  in  the  camp.     In   a  Lijt  of 

Lord 


(  39  ) 


Lord  Stirling,  ihc  father-in-law  of  William  Ducr,  written  by  Mr  Duer's 
fon  (ami  the  rclatioiidiip  is  of  fomc  importance  to  the  authenticity  of  the 
anecdote),  occurs  this  fingular  palTage  :     "  It  is  related  by  Mr.   Dunlap 
in   his  hillory  of  New  York,  upon  the  authority,  it   is  prefumcd,  of  the 
late  General  Morgan  Lewis,  that  a  day  had  been  appointed  by  the  Calai 
in  Congrcfs  for  one  of  them  to  move  for  a  Committee  to    proceed  to  the 
camp  at   Valley   Forge,   to   arrcll    General  Wafliington  ;    and   that   the 
motion  would  have  fuccceded  had  ihcy  not  unexpcac  'ly  loll  the  majority 
which   they  poircflcd  wh^.-n   the   meafure  was  determined  on.     At  that 
time,  there  were  but  two  delegates  in  attendance  frou-  New-York,  Francis 
Lewis,  the  father  of  the  late  General  Morgan  Lewis,  and  William  Ducr, 
the  fon-in-law  of  Lord  Stirling  — barely  suffiricnt  to  entitle  the  state  to  a 
vote,  if  both  were  prefent.      Hut  Mr.  Ducr  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  a 
fevcre  and  dangerous  illncfs.      His  colleague,  Mr.  Lewis,  had  font  an  ex- 
prefs  for  Mr.   Gouverncur   Morris,   one  of  the  abfent  members,   who 
however,  had  not  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which   the  mo- 
tion was  to  have  been  made.      Finding  this  to  be  the  cafe,  Mr.  D.  inquired 
of  his  phyfician.  Dr.  John  Jones,  whether  it  was   poifible  for  him  to  be 
carried  to  the  Court-Houfe  where  Congrcfs  (at.     The  doftor  told  him  it 
was  poffible,  but   it  would  be  at  the   ri(k  of  his  life.     '  Do  you  mean,' 
laid  Mr.  D.,   '  tl;at  1  (hould   expire  before  reaching  the  place.''     'No,' 
replied  the  dodor,   '  but  I  would  not  anfwcr  for  your  leaving   it   alive  ' 
'  Very  well,  fir,"  laid  Mr.  D.,  'you  have  done  your  duty,  and  I  will  do 
mine.      Prepare  a   litter  for  me  ;   if  you  will   not,  fomebody  elfe  will  — 
but   I  prefer  your  aid.'     The   litter  was  prepared,   and  the   fick   man 
placed  in  it,  when  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Morris  rendered  the  further  ufc     7 
it  unneccflliry,  and  br.ffled  the  intrigue  that  had  induced  its  preparation." 
The  dale  ol  this  anecdote  was  fucl\  as  to  render  it  extremely  improbable 
that  the  American  army,  if  it  fubmitted   to  Walhington's  depofal,  would 
ha\  e  llruck  another  blow  under  another  leader  for  Congrcfs.    "  f  remem- 
ber well,  fays  a   public  writer  in  17H0,   "  that  fuch  was  the   fituaiion  of 
the  army,  while  they  lay  at  Valley  Forge  in  the  winter  of  the  year  1778, 
dcltitute  of  cloathing,  many  times  in  want  of  provifions,  and  greatly  dif- 
couragcd,  that  a  member  of  Congrcfs,  who  had  been  on  a  committee  to 
the  camp  to  new  model  the  troops,  with  the  advice  of  General  Wadiington, 
"  declared 


f 


III  'f 


(  +0  ) 


11- 


declared  to  me,  that  '  fuch  had  been  the  Rate  of  things,  that  nothing  but 
the  great  virtues  of  that  man  had  kept  the  army  together.'  " 

"  Much  concerning  this  Crti{<j/,  and  its  worliings  in  the  Congrefsof  1778, 
exifts  in  Gordon  :  whence  it  would  fccm  that  delegates  from  Maffachufetts 
and  Virginia  were  deep  in  the  affair.  Samuel  Adams,  he  fays,  was  con- 
cerned in  it,  and  adds :  "  The  army  was  fo  confident  of  it,  and  fo 
enraged,  that  perlons  were  Rationed  to  watch  him,  as  he  approached  the 
camp,  on  his  return  home.  But  he  is  commonly  poflcired  of  good  'nlel- 
ligence,  and  was  careful  to  keep  at  a  fafc  diftance.  Had  he  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  officers,  when  in  that  paroxifm  of  refentment,  they 
would  probably  have  handled  him  fo  as  to  have  endangered  his  life,  and 
tarnifhed  their  own  honour." 

There  is  a  curious  article  in  the  Vennjylvania  Evening  Pojf  July  24th, 
1779,  which  may  refer  to  this  anti-VVa(hington  Party  in  Congrefs :  "a 
junto  who  have  endeavored  to  fubjefl  all  things  to  ihemfelves,  all  power, 
cixil,  military  and  marine:  Who  have  endeavored  to  remove  every 
perfon  that  would  not  mingle  in  their  fadious  views ;  and  to  place  none 
in  office  but  their  friends,  relatives  and  dependents ;  againll  whofe  male- 
volence the  unfullicd  fame  of  the  great  American  patriot  was  but  a  (lender 
barrier ;  whofe  viftim  was  a  W  *********  —  and  whofe  idol 
was  a  L  *  *,"  The  fame  journal  (July  9th,  1 779)  mentions  the  exill- 
cnce  in  Congrefs  of  a  fort  of  Club  of  certain  New-England,  New-Jerfey, 
and  Pennfvlvania  delegates,  with  two  or  three  from  the  Southward  ;  the 
foundation  of  which  had  been  laid  in  the  firll  Congrefs,  when  there  was 
caufe  to  fear  that  New- York  and  one  or  two  other  middle  colonies  were 
averfe  to  extreme  meafures.  .Among  the  Wafliington  party  in  Congrefs,  I 
(liould  put  fuch  names  as  thofe  of  Robert  Lewis,  and  Gouverncur  Mor- 
ris ;  Jay  ;  Paca  ;  Burke  ;  Drayton  ;  Duane  ;  Ducr ;  Francis  Lewis.  The 
quellion  is  not  fo  clear  in  regard  to  Samuel  Adams ;  Mifflin  ;  Witherfpoon  ; 
Rufli ;  Jelferfon  ;  the  Lees,  &c.  ;  though  any  conc'ufion  to  be  arrived  at 
muft  in  fome  meafure  be  conjcdural.  In  1789,  Samuel  Adams  in  a 
manner  denied  to  a  friend  the  truth  of  Dr.  Gordon's  Ifatement  of  his 
having  been  concerned  in  a  plot  to  remove  Wafliington.  And  in  1796, 
when  John  Adams  was  a  fuccefsful  candidate  for  the  Prefidency  of  the 
United  States,  he  makes  an  obfervation  that  would  imply  a  well-ellablifhed 

community 


(+< ) 


community  of  aflion  between  Samuel  Adams  and  Thomas  McKean : 
"The  feelings  of  friendrtiip  excite  a  curiofity  to  know  how  McKean  will 
vote.  By  that  I  Ihall  guefs  how  Govci  nor  Adams  would  have  void  !  " 
On  April  4th,  1778,  Patrick  Henry  wrote  to  Richard  Henry  Lee  that  he 
(Lcc)  was  traduced  in  Virginia  by  perfons  who  alleged  that  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a  fchenie  to  difcard  Wafhington :  and  in  1780,  Dr.  William 
Shippcn,  jun.,  wrote  thus  to  him  of  General  Greene:  "He  is  a  little 
fufpicious  that  you  are  not  perfeftly  fatisficd  with  his  condud,  bccaufe  you 
were  faid  to  be  inimical  to  our  commander,  and,  of  confequcnce,  to  him, 
who  was  fuppofed  to  be  one  of  his  flatterers  —  this  falfc  idea  I  have  re- 
probated to  General  Greene,  and  alTured  him  he  w  )uld  find  you  his 
friend  and  ufctul  confidant."  And  it  is  faid,  alfo,  that  the  occafion  of 
Lee's  lofing  his  popularity  at  home,  and  his  feat  in  Congrefs  in  1777,  was 
chiefly  bccaufe  he  had  compelled  his  tenants  to  pay  their  rents.  His 
bio;rap!icr  and  namcfake,  in  feveral  places,  flouts  the  charge  made  by 
Judge  Johnfon,  in  the  Life  of  Greene,  that  Richard  Henry  Lee  was 
Wafliington's  enemy.  But  if  Samuel  Adams  was,  fo  was,  probably,  Lcc. 
It  is  at  all  events  a  gratifying  thing  to  remark  that  no  one,  in  later  days, 
had  the  moral  courage  to  confefs  that  he  was  concerned  in  the  bufinefs ; 
indeed  its  very  natnc  of  Comvay's  Cabal  fliows  that  its  members  were 
afraid  or  afliamed  to  avow  their  complicity ;  for  Conway  was  but  a  tool 
of  the  hour,  w  horn  it  was  eafy  enough  for  a  fcllow-foldier  to  filcnce,  and 
whofe  name  was  affixed  to  a  fchcme  (that  he  doubtlcfs  approved  of,  but 
which  was  concoilcd  by  longer  heads  than  his  own)  merely  to  avert  the 
attention  of  the  world  from  its  real  authors.  In  the  army,  indeed,  the 
love  and  veneration  for  Wafliinglon  was  boundlefs,  and  almoft  univerfa! ; 
and,  here,  truly,  lay  the  Ihmibling-block  of  his  enemies.  It  was  only  in 
the  immediate  circle  of  fome  of  the  foreign-born  oflicers,  as  Conway,  Lee, 
and  Gates,  that  an  oppofite  opinion  was  heard.  Lee's  fentiments  in  re- 
gard to  "  VVafliington  and  his  puppies"  are  fuftieiently  well  known. 
"  Entre  mus,"  he  says  to  Gates  in  December,  1776,  "  a  certain  great 
man  is  damnably  deficient."  "As  to  his  talents  for  the  command  of  an 
army,"  faid  Gates  to  Graydon,  'with  a  French  flirug,'  "  they  were 
mifcrablc  indeed.''  The  tellimony  of  the  civilian,  who  was  forced  to 
remove  from  a  comfortablo  houfc  in  one  place  to  a  comfortable  houfe  in 

another. 


(    +2     ) 


another,  bccaufe  Walhington.  wi,h  vaftlv  inferior  forces  could  not  drive 
Howe  out  of  Philadelphia,  would  be  amudng  bu,  for  the  circumftance 
that,h,m/clt  m  a  pofi.ion   to  obtain  a   comfortable  dinner- "  a  good 
»oaft  turkey,  plain  pudding,  and  minced  pics,- -  he  could  fo  grievoufly 
have  mifconceived  the  condition  of  the  Army  in   his  vicinity.     As  Mr 
W.lham   B.  Reed  ju.l-y  obferves:     «  The   fufferings  of  the  American, 
durmg  thejr  wmte.-  cantonnent  a.  the  Valley  Forge  have  been  often  dc- 
fcribea.     They  have  never  been  exaggerated."     Yet,  in  the  end  of  De- 
cember. ,777,  at-.r  noticing  Howe's  movements,  a  Pennfylvania  Wing 
remarlcs  :     "  All  this  is  done  in  the  view  of  our  Generals  and  our  Army 
who  are  carelefs  of  us.   but  carefully  confuUing  where   .hey  fhall  go   to' 
J^cnd   the  winter   in  jollity,  gaming,    and   caroufing.     O   tell  not  this  in 
France  or  Spain  !     Fubill]-  it  not  in  the  «reets  of  London.  Liverpool  or 
Br,ftol,  lelt  the  unr.ircun.cifed  there  n.ould  rejoice,  and  (l.outing  for  joy 
(ay  :  "  America  is   ours,  for   the   rebels   are  difn,uyed  and  afraid  .0  fight 
us  any  longer!     O  Americans,  where  is  now  your  virtue?     O  Walhing- 
ton.   where  is  your  courage?"     In  this  note.no  citation  is   made   of 
lory   or  Bnt.ni  accufations  againft   Wartiington.     One  of  thefe  was 
however.  ,>ainft  his   chaftity ;    and    Ibme   of  the  charges  went   fo  far 
as  to    ,dent,ly    the    woman  and    to    trace   the  offspring.     This  is  only 
recurred  to  here,  becaufe   of  a  like  infmuation  being  made  apparently 
by  Charles  Lee.  .0  General  Reed,  in  ,778;  but  with  great  propriety  the 
latter  repelled  as   unworthy  of  credence   the  Handers   that  charged  the 
commander-in-chief  with   "great  cruelty  to   his   flaves   in  Virginia,  and 
immorahty  ot   life,  though  they  acknowledge  it  is  fo  very  fecre.  that  it  is 
difficult  todeteft  it." 

In  the  clolL- of  ,779,  General  Sullivan  warned  Wafliington  that  the 
CMoi  .777againll  him  ftill  exitted,  and  waited  only  for  furticient 
ftrength  .0  attack  Imn  openly.  He  therefore  advifes  him  to  keep  on  his 
guard.  "Appearances  may  deceive  even  an  Angel.  Could  you  have 
beheved.  four  years  ago.  that  thole  adulators,  thofe  perlons  fo  tenderly 
and  10  fnendly  ufed.  as  were  Gates.  Miffiin,  Reed  and  Tudor,  would 
become  your  fecret  and  bitter,  though  unprovoked  enemies.  If  we  view 
them  now.  we  cannot  help  lamenting  the  want  of  finceri.y  in  mankind." 

But  everythmg  laid  or  done  during  the  War,  bv  Whig  or  Tory,  falls  far 
Ihort  of   the  dreadful  charges  brought  againll  Walhington  by  his  political 

opponents 


li 


I 


t'Miripiwi  wwwt 


(+3   ) 


opponent,  and  fellow-citizens  in    .79;.    ,796.  and    .797.     Compared 
wth  .he  language  of  Valerius,  Pi,t,chus.  A  Cn/m  objerver.  Sec.  former 
fcurnhty  almoft  became  praife.     Every  variety  of  evil,  from  avarice  and 
fraud  to  tyranny  and  murder,  was  imputed  to  hi*  hands,  with  a  power  of 
conception    and    expreffion    that   leaves   us   no    room    to    wonder  that 
he    thoM   have  dildained    to   run   the   gauntlet   of  a  third  prefiden.ial 
term:   that   "he   prudently    retreated."    ,0   quote    the    remark   of    hi, 
fuccclTor.     "  Will  not  the   world  be  led  to  conclude."   fays  one.   "  that 
the  ma(k  of  political  hypocrify  has  been  alike  worn  by  a  Ca^far.  a  Crom- 
well,  and  a  Waftington !  "     "  Had  the  meridian  blaze  of  the  prefidenf, 
popularity  continued  much  longer."  writes  another.  "  the  lamp  of  ^kmeri- 
can  hbcrty  would  have  been  extinguifhed  forever.     Happilv  for  humanity 
a  change  has   taken   place   before  it  was  ,00  late,  and   ihe  confecrated 
ern,me  of  prefidcntial  chartity  feems  too  foul  for  time  itfclf  to  bleach  " 
li.  the   Fh/Mfi>ia  Aurora,  a   paper  edited  with  deteftable  ability,  will 
be  found  fcorcsof  piecesof  a  like  nature.     What  can  be  more  lamentable 
than  fuch  hues  as  thefe,  publilhed  at  the  very  epoch  (March  4,h.  ,797) 
of  Walhmgtons  withdrawal  to  private  lifc.^     -Lord,  letteft  now  1 
fervant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  feen  thy  falvation,"'  was  the 
ptous  ejaculation  of  a  man  who  beheld   a  flood  of  happinefs  rulhing  in 
upon  mankind.     If  e-er  there  was  a  time  that  would  licenfc  the  reiteration 
of   the  exclamation,   that  time  is  now  arrived :   for  the  man  who  is  the 
fource  o     all  the   n.isfortuncs  of  our  country,  is   this  day  reduced  to  a 
level  w„h  his  fellow-citizens,  and   is  no  longer  pofTefTed  of  a   power  .0 
mult,ply  ev.l   upon  the  United  States.     If  ever  there  was  a   period  for 
rcjccmg,   this  is  the  moment.     Every  heart  in   unifon  with  the  freedom 
and  happ.nefs  of  the  people,  ought  to  beat  h,gh  with  exultation  that  the 
name  of  Wafliington  from  this  day  ceafes  to  give  a  currency  ,0  poli.ical 
-n.qu.ty,  und  to  legalize  corruption  -a  new  a-ra  is  now  opening  upon  us 
an  .vra  wh,ch  promifes   much  .0   the   people;   for  public  meafures  mull 
now  Hand  upon  their  own  merits,  and   nefarious  projefts  can  no  longer 
be  lupported  by  a  name.      When   a  retrofpeft  is  taken  of  the  WaOnng- 
ton.an  administration  for  eight  years,  it  is  a  fubjert  of  the  greatell  alfonilh- 
n.cnt,  that  a  fingle  individual  fhould  have  cankered  the  principles  of  re- 
pubhcan.lm  in   an   enlightened   people,  jurt  en.erged   from   the  gulf  of 
dclpotihn.  and  fl.ould  have  carried   his   dedgns  ugainll  public   liberty  (o 

far. 


(+4  ) 


far,  as  lo  have  put  in  jeopardy  its  very  exillcnce ;  fuch,  however,  are  tl>c 
faas,  and  with    thcfe  liaring  us  in  the  face,  this  day  ought  to  be  ,  juiiUe 
m  .he  United  States."     I„  .M^,   John  Adams,  writing  to  Jeft'erfon,  re- 
fers to  "  the  terrorifm  excited   by  Genet,   in  ,793.  when  10.000  people 
in  the  llreets  of  Philadelphia,  day  after  day.  threatened  to  drag  Wafliing- 
ton  out  ot   hB  houfe.  and  efFert  a  revolution  in  the  government,  or  com- 
pel .1  to  declare  war    in  favor  of  the  French  revolution  and  againll  Eng- 
land.    The  cooleft  and  the  firmell   minds,  even   among   the  Quakers  in 
Philadelphia,  have  given  their  opinions  to  me.  that  nothing  but' the  yellow 
fever,  which  removed  Dr.  Hutchinlon  and  Jonathan  Dickinfon  Sergeant 
from  tins  world,  could  have  faved  the  United  Slates   from  a  fatal  revolu- 
tion ol  government."     liut  .Adams's  morbid  jealouly  of  every  one  whofe 
fame  outrtione  or  even  (in  his  own    opinion)  rivalled  his  own,  cankers 
very  many  ot  his  judgments  on  Wadiington.     While  Prcf.dent  himll-lf  he 
complained  that   he  was  annoyed  by    "  puppets,  danced   upon   the  wires 
of  two  jugglers  behind  the  feenes ;  and  thefc  jugglers  were  Hamilton  and 
Waflungton."     In   another   and    (as   believed)  m,publilhcd   manufcript 
he  fays  (..Aug.    23rd,    ,806):     "The   Federalilh,  as  thev  are  called  by 
themfelves  and  their  enemies,  have  done  thcmf.lvcs  and  their  coumry  in- 
calculable injury  by  making  VVafl,ing,„n  their  political,  religious,  and  even 
moralpope,  and  alcribing  everything  to  him.     Hancock.  Samuel  Adams, 
.  and   feveral   others   have   been   much    more  eflcntial  characters 
to  America  than  Wafhington.     Another  charader,  almoll   forgotten,  of 
more  importance  than  any  of  them  all,  was  James  Otis.     It  is  to  offend 
againll  eternal  julliee  to  give  to   one.  as  this  people  do,  the  merits  of  fo 
many.     It  is  an  effedual  extinguiflier  of  all  patriolifm  and  all  public  ;  trtue 
and  throws  the  nation  entirely  into   the  h-nds  of  intrigue.     You  lament 
the  growth  of  Corruption  very  juftly  ;  but   there  is  none  more  poifonous 
than  the  eternal  putfing  and  tru,i,peting  of  WaOiington  and  Franklin,  and 
th.-  mecffanr  abufe  of  the  real  Farhers  of  the  country. 

Defpite  all  that  has  been  faid,  too,  of  Mr.  Jefferfon's  relation,  with 
Wannngt.n.  it  is  ditReult  to  hold  that  thefe  really  could  have  been  of  a 
perlertly  fincere  and  friendly  nature.  It  was  believed  in  Wafl.ington's 
fimily  that,  (hort'y  before  his  death,  he  opened  his  mind  very  plainly  to 
Mr.  Jerterjon.  in  two  or  three  letters.      .\  gentleman,  who  was  Walhing- 

Ion's 


tmi 


(  +5  ; 


ton's  confidential  clerk  at  the  time,  gives  us  Come  idea  of  their  nature ;  for 
neither  letters  nor  copies  long  continued  in  existence  after  their  writer 
was  dead.  "  The  firft  was,"  he  faid  "  rather  a  letter  of  inquiry  j  tlie 
fecond  one  was  fo  fevere,  anf*  excited  his  feelings  fo  much,  that  the  hair 
appeared  to  rife  on  his  he.ia  as  he  recorded  it,  and  he  felt  that  it  mull 
produce  a  duel  — that  the  third  was  of  a  milder  tone,  but  not  a  very 
gratifying  one." 

It  is  not,  at  ihi-.  day,  too  much  to  fay,  th.tt  the  common  fufFrage  of  all 
that  is  wife  and  good  in  human  nature,  authorizes  us  to  quellion  that  man's 
foundncfs  of  judgment  or  reilitudc  of  purpofe  who  impugns  the  charader 
of  Geerre  Wnjhington." 


Page  23.     D.wid  Matthewi. 

HE  was  appointed  Mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York  in  February, 
1776;  "and  by  permiflionof  the  Provincial  Congrcfs was  qualified 
by  Governor  Tryon  on  board  the  lliip  Duchep  of  Gordon,  at  anchor  in 
the  harbor.  In  July  of  the  fame  year  he  was  in  jail  at  Litchfield,  Con- 
nefticut,  charged  with  "  trcafonalilc  pradices  againft  the  States  of  Ameri- 
ca ;  "  but,  at  his  own  rcqucll,  was  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he  lid 
friends,  and  could  fee  his  wife.  In  1782,  he  was  Rcgifter  of  the  Court 
of  Admiralty.  He  had  a  houfe  in  New  Vork  and  another  in  Flatbulli, 
and  kept  up  an  ellablifliment  at  both.  His  cllatc  was  confifcatcd.  After 
the  war  he  was  prefidcnt  of  the  Council  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Ifland  of  Cape  Breton." — Stihine's  Loyaiijh,  n,  51-2,  ed.  1764. 

"  I  well  recollcrt  breakfalling  with  my  mother  at  the  houfe  of  Mr. 
Matthews,  the  Mayor,  and  that  his  daughter,  who  entertained  us,  wasfo 
much  to  my  lalle,  that  for  the  moment  I  quite  forgot  the  politics  of  her 
father,  and  might  even  have  fwerved,  perhaps,  from  my  loyalty  to  an 
allegiance  a  thoufand  times  fworn  elfcwhere." — Graydons  Memoirs,  p. 
272,  ed.  1S46. 

He 


(  46  ) 


He  appears  lo  have  been  a  man  of  fociable  qualities;  one  of  his  own 
party  fpeaks  of  him  as  "  that  merry  heart,  David  Matthews."— V.  Moore's 
Diary  of  the  Revolution,  i,  190. 

At  page  237  of  Moore's  Songs  ,md  Balladi  of  the  American  Revolution, 
is  a  fong  from  Rivington's  Gazette,  which  it  is  fuggcfted.  may  have  been 
written  by  Matthew*, 


APPENDIX. 


« 


1 


J 


APPENDIX. 


Extract    of  a    L£tter    from    a  Gintleman  in  New  York   to   hb 
Friend  in   Hartforo,  daied  June  27,    1776. 

YOU  have  no  doubt  heard  of  a  moll  horrid  confpiraey  lately 
dilcovered  in  this  place  I  have  had  no  opportunity  to  examine 
the  evidences  in  iiipport  of  the  fad;  but  from  the  weight  of  the 
perfons  who  have  appeared  to  profecute  the  inquiry,  and  the  circuinlhin- 
ces  that  have  been  mentioned,  I  ha\c  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of  the  general 
charge.  The  fublhince  of  it,  I  take  to  be  this,  that  Govcrnour  Tryon  in 
this,  and  other  fimilar  emilTaries  in  all  the  other  Governments,  have  been 
for  a  long  time  ufiiig  all  the  influence  that  the  command  of  the  Minillry 
and  Treahiry  in  En^^/,ind  could  give  them,  to  bribe  and  cajole  our  princi- 
pal people  in  all  \\v:  Colonics  to  wtX  in  concert  with  their  plans;  that  by 
degrees  they  have  brought  numbers  fully  to  co-operate  with  them;  and, 
alter  being  led  on  too  far  to  recede,  Hick  at  nothing,  however  villaiiousand 
horrible,  to  accomplilh  their  defigns ;  that  the  principal  eniilTaries  have,  by 
purfuing  the  fame  methods  that  were  fiiccefsfully  pradiced  upon  them- 
(el\cs,  drawn  in  thole  beneath  them,  lb  as  to  take  in  all  degrees,  from  the 
prince  to  tjie  fcavenger  ;  that  a  dillribution  of  nioitey  and  arms  has  been 
fecrctly  nude  from  the  greater  to  the  L'ali  branches ;  that  there  were 
fchcmcs  to  dilHnguilli  who  were  in  the  plot,  without  I'pcaking;  that  when 
all  was  ready  lor  execution,  the  moll  vigorous  efforts  were  to  be  made  in 
ditlerent  parts  at  once  to  land  the  trrxips  and  pulh  their  operations ;  at 
the  lame  time  all  our  moll  intporiaiit  ,M>lh  were  to  be  leized  by  the  con- 
fpirators  on  lliorc ;  among  ourlehcs  all   our   important   men  were  to  be 

fcizcd 


{  50  ) 


feized  or  murdered,  together  with  all  that  were  friellr^ly  attached  to  the 
caufc  of  American  rights  and  liberty,  and  might  be  likely  to  obftrma  their 
views  or  give  them  trouble.  General  WalhiHgton  was  aiiinng  the  firft 
that  were  to  be  facrificcd,  and  the  reft  in  fucceflion,  according  to  their 
importance.  A  number' of  the  General's  Guard  have  already  been 
taken  up,  were  bribed  to  murder  him,  and  have  for  fome  time  received 
double  pay  for  that  purpofe,  one  of  whom  was  ycfterday  condemned  to 
to  be  hanged.— Force's  Amiritan  Archives,  4th  feries,  vol.  vi,  page 
IIOI. 


Proceeding!  in  New  York  in  relation  to  Disaffected  Persons. 

Die  Sabbaii,  12  ho.,  June  15,  1776. 

In  Committee  for  the  hearing  and  trying  difafferted  perfons  and  ihofe 
of  equivocal  charaders,  met  in  the  Afll-nibly-Chambcr :  I'rcfent,  Philip 
Livinglion,  Jojepb  Hallelt,  John  J„y,  Thomas  Tredtvel/,  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Lewis  Graham,  and  Leonard  GanJ'evoort,  Efquires,  menibcis. 

The  Members  prefent  unanimoudy  chofc  Philip  Living/ion,  Esq., 
Chairman,  which  he  refufed  to  accept. 

The  draft  of  a  Summons  was  read,  and  approved  of. 

Ordered.     That  one  hundred  copies  be  printed. 

Lift  of  fufpeded  perfons  named  in  the  Rcfolutions  of  the  Provincial 
Congrefs,  of  June  5,  1776: 


/ 


/ 


Wm.  Newton, 
Linus  King, 
John  Baltres  Da(h, 
Henry  Law, 
Thco.  Hardenbrook, 
Samuel  Burling, 
John  Woods, 
Benjamin  Williams, 
Chriftophcr  Benfon, 


New  York. 

Ftr/l  Lift. 

William  Bayard, 
Frederick  Rhinelander, 
James  Coggcdiall, 
John  Milliner, 
Benjamin  James, 
Thcopilai)  Bache, 
Peter  McLean, 
Samuel  Galsworthy, 
Francis  De  La  Roach. 


(SI   ) 


/ 


/ 


Oliver  De  Lancey, 
C.  Ward  Apthorpc, 
William  Smith, 
John  Harris  Crugcr, 
James  Jaunccy,  Jun., 
William  Axtell, 
Goldbrow  Banyar, 
George  Brewcrton, 
Charles  Nicoll, 
Gerard  Walton, 
Dr.  Donald  McLean, 


StetHii  Lift. 

Benjamin  Huggett, 
William  McAdam, 
John  Crugcr, 
Jacob  Walton, 
Robert  Bayard, 
Peter  Graham, 
Peter  Van  Schaack, 
And.  Elliott,  Colleftor, 
David  Matthews,  Mayor, 
J.  Watts,  Jr.,  Recorder, 
Judge  Thomas  Jones. 


Charles  McEvers, 

On  hoard  Jhifi-tf-war  Duuhe/s  of  Gordon,  fje. 


William  Tryon, 
John  Wctherhead, 
Captain  Hcrvey, 


Theophilaft  Bache, 


Augullus  Van  Cortlandt, 


Ifaac  Decker, 
Abraham  Harris, 


Benjamin  Seaman, 


R'd  Hulet,  Rockaway 
Thomas  Cornel,  do. 


John  T.  Kempe, 
George  Berks, 

King's  Countv. 
Firft  Lift. 

Benjamin  James. 

Second  Lifl. 

John  Rapalye. 

Richmond  County. 

Firft  Lift, 

Ephraim  Taylor, 
Minne  Burger. 

Stcond  Lift. 

Chriftopher  Billop. 

Queens  County. 
Firft  Lift. 

Stephen  Hulet, 
Dr.  Charles  Ardcr., 


J-  Beagle,  Rockaway. 
John  KcndaJ,  at  Danid. 
Thorn's,  Flufl,i„g^ 

Mn  Moore,  Sen.,  Newtown, 
O.  Beatty.  Hcnipftead. 


(    52     ) 


John  Bodin, 

Chafe,  Jamaica. 

Jno.  Hulct,  Oyller  Bay. 

""'"'   Benton,    of    Ne'ar    Rocb- 
way. 

Second  Lift. 

John  Willct. 
J^avid  Brooks, 
Charles  Hicks, 
John  Townfend, 
lo'in  Polhenius, 
Benjamin  Whitehead, 
Thomas  Smith, 
John  Shoals, 
Nathaniel  Moore, 
San)uel  Hallet, 
William  Weyman, 

Captain  Thon,as  Hicks,  Rockawav. 
B-  Leiler,  Hempllead. 

Westchester  County. 
Pi'-fi  Lift. 

James  Horton,  J„n., 
William  Suiton, 
William  Barker, 
Jofluia  Purdy, 
Abfalom  Giiiney. 

St  con  J  Lij}_ 

RiW,ardMorris,J.,dgeof..idn,iraltv 
^"<=Co^-Roomintl.eCityHalloftheCi.yof| 
Mr.  Morris  offered  to  ,h    V  ''''  ""'  '''^  "'■•'""'^-  '776.  | 

''"'-'■—---="-,:-■-— ^^ 

I'rovincial 


Gabriel  Ludlow, 
Br.  Samuel  Martin, 
Thomas  Jones, 
Archibald  Hamilton, 
David  Colden. 
Richard  Colden, 
George  D.  Ludlow, 
Whitehead  Hicks, 
Samuel  Clowes, 
George  Folliot, 
Sanuel  Doughty, 
Baniel  KilTam, 
Gilbert  \'an  Wyck, 


Frederick  Philipfe, 

Caleb  .Morgan, 

Nathaniel  UnJerhill. 
Samuel  Merritt, 
''c'cr  Come, 
Br.  Peter  Huggeford, 


Solomon  Fowler, 


(  53  ) 

Provincial  Congrcfs  of"  the  5th  of  Juxe  inftant;  which,  being  read  and 
confidered,  was  agreed  to,  and  i»  in  the  words  following,  viz : 

In  purfuance  of  certain  Rcfolutions  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of 
New-rork  oftlie  5th  day  of  June  inftant,  we  do  authorize  and  require 
you  forthwith  to  arreft  and  bring  before  us,  at  the  City-Hall  of  the  City 

of  Netv-nrk, ,  „  hofe  conduft  hath  been 

rcprefcMtcd  to  the  faid  Congrefs  as  inimical  to  the  caufc  and  rights  of 
America,  and  who,  if  fummoncd,  would  probably,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
faid  Congrefs,  not  appear,  but  fecrete  himfclf;  to  the  end  that  we,  being 
the  Committee  of  the  faid  Congrefs,  fo-  that  purpofe,  by  the  rcfolutions 
aforcfaid,  duly  appointed  and  authorized,  may  inquire  and  determine  in 
the  prcmilcs.      And  bring  with  you  then  there  this  warrant. 

Given  at  Nezc-Tork,  iho day  o(  June,  1776. 

Form  if  Summom  fir  JuJpeHed  Perfons. 
SIR  :   By  virtue  of   the  authority  veftcd  in  us  by  certain  rcfolutions  of 
the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  o(  Neai-Tirk  of  the  5th  day  oiJune,mi\\Q 
year  of  our  Lord  feventccn  hundred  and  fevcnly-fix,  reciting  that  whereas 
there  arc  in  this  Colony  divers  pcrfons  who,  by  reafon  of  their   holding 
offices  from  the  King  of  Gm;/  Britain  —  from  their  having  neglcftcd  or 
rcfufcd   to  aflociate  with    their   f'cllow-ciiizens  for   the  defence  of  their 
common  rights  —  from   their  having  never  manifellcd,  by  their  conduft, 
a  zeal  for,  and  attachment  to  the  American  caule  —  or  from  their  having 
maintained  an  equivocal  neutrality,  have  Ix-en  confidered  by  their  country- 
men in  a   fufpicious   light  — whereby  it  hath   become   neceffary,   as  well 
for  the  fafcty  as  for  the  falisfartion   of  the   people,  (who,   in   times  fo 
dangerous  and  critical,  are  naturally  led  to  confider  thofe  as  their  enemies 
who  withhold  from  them  their  aid  and  influence,)  that  certain  perfons  in 
the  faid  rcfolutions  named,  (of  whom  you  are  one,)  who  are  generally 
fuppofed  to  come  under  the  above  defcription,  IhouKi  be  fummoncd  by  a 
certain  Committee,  to  lliow  caufe,  if  any  they  have,  why  they  fliould  be 
confidered  as  friends   to   the  American  caufe,  and   as  of  the  number  of 
thofe  who   arc  ready  to  rifle  their   lives   and  fortunes   in  defence  of  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  America  againlf  the  ufurpation,  unjuil  claims,  and 
cruel  opprellions  of  the  Britijh  Parliament ;   which   rights  and  liberties, 
and  which  unjuil  claims  and  cruel  opprcffions,  are  fpecificd  and  iiaic.i  in 

'livers 


(  5+  ) 


d.vcrj  AddrefTes.  Petitions,  and  Rem  on  Frances  of  the  prefent  and  late 
ContmentalCongrcfl-es;  and  dire«ing  certain  proceeding,  in  the  faid 
refolunons  fpecified  ,o  be  by  the  faid  Committee  had  againft  fuch  of  the 
faid  perfons  „  the  faid  Committee  fhall  rot  adjudge  and  determine  to  be 
friends  to  the  Americun  caufc  : 

We  do.  therefore,  in  purfuancc  of  the  faid  Refoluiions.  fummon  you 

to  appear  before  us  at on  the ....  day  of.  . 

" °"''°^^  '"  "^"^ "°on  of  'he   faid  day.   to  (how  caufe'(if 

any  you  have)  why  you  (hould  be  confidered  as  a  friend  to  the  Jmnican 
caufe.  and  of  the  number  of  thofe  who  are  readv  to  ri/k  their  lives  and 
fortunes  m  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America,  againft  ,he 
ulurpatmn.unjuft  claims,  and  cruel  oppreflions  of  the  britijh  Parliament- 
which  nghts  and  liberties,  ,nd  which  unjuft  claims  and  cruel  oppreflions' 
are.  as  aforefaid.  fpecified  .■<,;  ftated  in  divers  Addrefc,  Petitions  and 
Refolutions  of  the  prefent  and  late  Continental  Congreflbs. 

Dated  the  ....  day  of |  776. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Harris  Cruger. 

The  Committee  adjourned  till  to  morrow  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  to 
meet  at  the  fame  place. 


The  Court-room  in  the  City-Hall  of  the  City  of  > 

New-Vork,  the  20th  day  of  June,  1 776.  ( 

Certain  Members  of  the  Committee  being  obliged  ,0  attend  to  other 

bufmefs  impofed  on   them  by  the  Houfe.  the  Committee  did   not  meet 

but  feveral  of  the   Members  agreed  to   meet  to-morrow  morning,  at  ten 

o  clock  in  the  forenoon,  at  the  fame  place. 


The  Court.Room  in  the  City-Hall  of  the  City  of  i 
New- York,  the  21ft  day  of  June,  1776  \ 
The  Committee  met  purfuant  to  the  agreement  of  yefterday. 
Prefent-7.i»  Jay,  Efq.,  Chairman,  Mr.  Livingjhn,   Mr.    Hobart, 
Mr.  Ganfevoot:,  Mr.  Morrii,  Colonel  Graham. 

The  Secretary  reported  that,  purfuan.  10  the  order  of  this  Committee 
of  the    19th  inftant.  he  had  on  that  day  duly  fworn   Sampjon  Dyckman, 

the 


.^M 


(  55  ) 


.heMcn-cngerof  this  Committee,  faithfully  ,o  execute  the  duties   and 
office  of  McfTcnger  lo  this  Committee. 

The  Secretary  further  reported  that,  purfuant  lo  another  order  of  this 
Comm.ttee  of  the  fame  day,  he,  forthwith  delivered  the  fummonfes  made 
otit  th,s  a.y,  to  the  mefl-enger.  to  he  ferved  ;  and  that  he  delivered  the  other 
fummonfes  to  the  MelTenger  yellerday  morning,  when  the  faid  MefTenger 
■  nformed  him  that  fTm.r,  McM,m,  to  whom  one  of  the  firft  mentioned 
fummonfes  was  dircded,  was  abfent  from  home,  and  as  the  MefTenger 
^vas  mformed  by  Mrs.  McJdam,  gone  to  a  diftant  part  of  Neu,.7,rjey 
from  whence  it  was  uncertain  when  he  would  return  ;  and  that  he  de- 
livered the  faid  fummons  to  Mrs.  McAdams. 

That  the  MefTcnger  further  informed  him  that  he  had  delivered  the 
fummons  dircdled  to  Oliver  De  Lancey,  Efq.,  to  his  wife.  Mr.  D.  L. 
being,  as  fl,e  informed  him.  gone  from  home;  and  that  he  had  delivered 
the  ,t,mn,ons  direrted  to  Mr.  Jptborp  and  Mr.  R^ierl  Bayard  to  them- 
(elves,  refpeftivcly. 

That  he  had  not  ferved  the  fummons  dircfted  to  George  Brewerlon 
he  being  (with  his  fan.ily)  out  of  town. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretarv  make  out  a  number  of  blank  Warrant, 
in  tl,e  lorm  direfted  by  this  Committee  on  the  .p.h  day  o^  June  irnhnt! 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  H,Mard  ..A  Colonel  Graha,n  prepare  the  draft 
ot  a  Warrant  proper  to  be  ilTued  againll  fuch  perfons  of  equivocal  cha- 
raftcras  may  negleft  or  refufe  to  appear  on  fummons ,  and  alfo  of  a 
fummons  proper  to  be  ilTued  to  perfons  fuppofed  to  be  inimical  and 
dangerous  to  the  caufc  of  America. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  ten  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  to  nieet 
at  the  uiiie  place. 


Examination  of  William  Leary. 
William  Leary  f.ys  that  he  came  hither  lalt  Monday,  about  ten  o'clock 
m  purluit  of  W,llu,m  Benjamin,  a  workman  of  Mr.  Erjhine,  who  had 
nm  away  from  Bigzvood  Ironworks.  He  found  the  faid  Benjamin  at  the 
iHM,  e  of  one  Forbes,  at  the  fign  of  Robin  Hood  .After  taking  him. 
torbes  ran  and  got  a  pillol  for  Benjamin  to  defend  himfclf.  and  exa,-iinant 
took  hold  ot  Benjamin  and  prevented  him  from  ufing  the  faid  pilbl. 
fcxa.miant  carried  the  faid  Benjamin  to  Paulus  Hook  Ferry,  who  was 
•'  there 


(  56  ) 


there   rcfcucd  by  Sergeant   Cornet,  of  Captain  Roifevct's  company,  and 
by  the  faid  captain  cnlillcd.     Examinant  then  met  J.ima  Mojon,  one  of 
the  workmen  of  Mr.  Erjkine,  wlio  had  fomc  lime  ago  been  difchargcd. 
Juma  Mafon  afkcd  exaniinant  if  he  did   not  want  to  ice  James  kamjaj, 
Cbrijhpher  Wiley,  and  lUorge  Cmmell.     Examinant  faid  yes.   James 
MaJQii  faid  examinant  migh:  fee   llieni  if  he  would   take   an  oaih  that  he 
did  not  come  to  take  them  up;  which  examinant  rcfufed,  laying  he  would, 
ncverthelefs,  be  glad  tu  fee  them.     M,iJon  aflced  exaniinant  if  he  had  run 
away;  who  anfwcred  in  the  affirmalive.     Majon  then  a(kcd  what  examin- 
ant would  do  with  himfelf,  and  whether  he  would   do  as  he  and  the  reft 
of  them  had  d^ne.      Exa.ninant  afked  what   tliat  nas.      MaJon  faid  he 
muft   [.-  and   be  qualified,   and   then   he  would   tell  him.     Examinant 
agreed  to  be  qualified ;  but  afked  on  what  foundation?     Mafon  told  him 
he  was  to  fwear  before   a  gentleman  in   this  town   to  go  on  board  of  the 
man-of-war;   that  he  (A/riyi«)    and   his  companions  had   fo  fworn,  and 
were  to   receive  wages  and  provifions  until   they  fliould  be  able  to  get 
there.      Examinant    afked    who    the   gentleman    was    that    f«ore    them. 
Mafon  replied  it  was  a  gentleman  employed  by  the  Mayor  or  Governour 
of   the  town  ;  but  the  examinant  thinks  it  was   the  Miiyor  who  fwore 
them  and  found  provifions  for  them  until  they  had  an  npporiunitv  lo  get 
on  board    the  man-of-war.     Mafon   then   conduced   exaniinant   to   the 
houfe  where   George   Gammel,  James  Rnmfiy,   and   Chriflcpher  Wyley 
li\ed.     This  houfe  is  a  Seotehman's,   juft   below  the   Jetis'  Synagogue,  a 
private  houfe  ;  decs  not  know  the  man's  name.     When  examinant  came 
in,  George  Gammel  afked  him  if  he  was  in  purfuit  of  them  ;  who  anfwcred 
in  the  negative.     George  Gammel  then  faid,  Did  you  come  away  in  the 
fame  manner  as  we  did  .'     Exaniinant  faid  yes.     Gammel  then  faid,  we 
will  have  a   drink   together.      6Votw,/ faid  he  would  divulge  his  mind  to 
examinant  if  examinant  would  be  true  to  him.     Examinant  anfwcred,  "  I 
will  be  as  true  to  you  as  you  are  to  me.''     Gammel  xhcn  took  examinant 
afide,  and  afked  when  he  would  go  on   board  of  the  man-  '  \>ar.     Ex- 
aminant  laid  he  did  not  know,  but  would  take  the  firll  good  oppoitunity. 
Afked  examinant  if  he  wanted  a  pals.     Examinant   faid    he   had  a  pafs 
fufticient  for  him  to  go  as  far  as  he  wanted.     Gammel  brought  to  examin- 
ant a  perlbn  to  give  him   a  pafs,  whom  examinant  docs   not  know,  but 
believes  he  iliould  know  him  again  if  he  were  to  fee   him.     Examinant 

faid 


(  57  ) 


faid  he  wanted  to  fee  the  New  Engknd  encampment,  to  fee  one  Amos 
Hutchim,  a  Captain ;  intending  to  decoy  ihem  thither,  and  have  them 
apprehended.  When  examinant  had  got  about  half  way  up  the  Broad- 
way, they  didovcrcd  his  pirtols,  and  would  have  fled,  thinl<ing,  as  examin- 
ant fuppofes,  that  he  meant  to  take  them  up.  Jamti  Ram/ay  and  Cbriflo- 
phcr  M'yley  ran  off.  Examinant  purfucd  and  caught  Jumes  Ram/ay. 
They  then  gathered  together,  and  afltcd  examinant  why  he  carried 
pillols;  who  repHed  that  they  were  for  his  defcnfe,  until  with  them  he 
could  get  on  board  of  the  man  of-war.  They  being  then  fufpicious, 
turned  back  ;  but  examinant  firft  afkcd  George  Gammel  when  he  intended 
to  go  on  board  of  the  man-of-war,  and  how.  Gammel  anfwered  '  I  intend 
to  leave  town  this  night,  and  go  to  Long  IJIarid,  and  get  from  thence  to 
the  man  of-war;  •  but  whether  to  get  a  pcrfon  to  put  him  on  board,  or 
to  Ileal  a  boat  or  canoe,  this  examinant  is  not  certain.  Gammel  then 
faid  the  gentleman  who  was  employed  by  the  .Mayor  had  defired  them 
not  to  be  fcen  more  than  two  together.  The  gentleman  had  further  told 
him  the  Riflemen  were  fo  thick  on  Ung-IJIand  as  to  prevent  him  from 
getting  on  board  until  a  more  convenient  opportunity  ;  and  perhaps  they 
might  not  get  on  board  until  General  Howe  arrived  with  his  fleet.  They 
cxpefted  a  large  body  of  men  to  join  them  from  Gofoen,  and  they  were 
to  get  on  board  with  the  utmoll  defpatch  after  General  Howe's  arrival. 

William  Learv. 
Examined  by,  and  fworn  the  20th  oi  June,  1776,  before  us. 

John  Jav, 

GOUVERNEUR  MoRRlS. 

Examinatioi/ 0/ JAMES  Mason. 

James  Ma/on  fays :  About  two  weeks  and  a  half  ago  a  man  took  his 
qualification  that  he  would  not  divulge  anything  about  the  bufincfs  he  was 
then  upon.  When  he  went  up  to  Gojheu  from  Kingjwood,  about  five 
weeks  ago,  to  look  for  a  place  as  a  miller,  he  faw  a  man  who  had  been 
four  days  on  board  the  nian-ot"-war,  by  name  William  Forbes,  a  tanner 
and  currier  by  trade  ;  that  as  you  go  up  the  Broadway  you  come  to  the 
ftrcet  in  which  is  the  Ojrn-go  market,  oppofite  to  the  fouth  fide  of  which, 
four  doors  from  the  corner  of  the  Broadway,  lives  one  Lourie,  a  tavern-' 
keeper,  a  fat  man,  who  wears  a   blue  coat,  and  that   he   hath  frequently 

met 


(  58   ) 


met  the  CM  IVil/itim  Fories  m  that  houfc;  that  he  told  examinant  he 
never  lodged  twice  in  the  fame  houfc,  being  afraid  ;  examinant  alked 
where  he  did  lodge,  Forks  would  not  tell  him  ;  that  Forba  hath  a  houfe 
of  his  own,  five  miles  from  GoJken,M  which  he  faw  him  u  ,,  n  cxu;i.iiiaiit 
was  locking  for  a  place.  Forbes  told  examinant  he  had  been  four  davs 
on  board  the  man-of-war  lall  April,  when  the  (liip  Sjvdge  fired  on  Staten- 
Ijland;  that  Governour  7>-^<i»  would  give  file  guineas  bounty  and  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  for  each  man,  one  hundred  for  his  wife,  and  fifty  for 
each  child,  upon  condition  they  would  cnlill  in  his  Majelly's  fervice. 
Jilxaminant  bore  Fortes's  cxpcnfes  to  town,  Fcrbes  undertaking  to  repay 
him  i.i  ^irJ  ca(h  when  they  got  on  board;  that  Forba  was  to  have  a 
bounty  from  the  Governour  for  every  man  he  could  get,  and  had  been 
fcnt  home  for  that  purpofc ;  that  the  Governour  had  dcfircd  him  to  go  up 
and  get  as  many  men  as  he  could ;  that  the  recruits  were  to  aflill  the 
King's  troops  when  they  came;  that  recruits  were  not  to  go  on  board, 
becaufe  ihey  could  do  more  good  on  lliore,  and  befides  they  were  on 
Ihort  allow  imc  in  the  fliip  and  crowded,  as  Forba  told  examinant. 
Forbes  and  examinant  came  to  New-Tori  by  way  oC  E/izabethlozvn,  and 
in  their  way,  at  ff^nrtviei,  Forbes  enticed  Wil/i,im  Benjamin  to  go  along 
with  him,  ajul  at  E/iziibethtotvn  Forbes  iruiuirtd  at  Deacon  Ogden's, 
where  he  ufed  to  work,  and  told  examinant,  after  the  inquiry,  that  they 
could  not  get  on  board  from  Bergcn-Voint  or  Staten-IJlund,  as  there  were 
Riflemen  ftationed  there,  hut  mull  go  to  Netv-Tork,  for  that  there  was  a 
man  there,  one  McLean,  a  fliocmaker,  near  the  Rosa!  Exeb>,iHge,  who  was 
employed  by  the  Governour  to  carry  recruits  on  board  j  that  Forbes  and 
examinant  came  to  Sew-t'ork  in  an  E/ixabelhlotvn  boat,  and  went  firft 
to  Thomas  Majhi's  at  the  corner  of  Beaver  llrect  and  Broadtvay,  at  the 
fign  of  the  Highlander,  where  they  left  their  baggage,  and  miliam  Ben- 
jamin to  take  care  of  it,  and  went  thence  to  McLean's,  to  inquire  for  a 
palKige;  that  Mc Lean  and  Forbes  whifpcred  together,  and  then  Forbes 
told  examinant  that  McLean  faid  there  was  no  opportunity  of  getting  on 
board  in  two  or  three  niglv,, ;  that  McL  in  recommended  them  to  one 
James  lloulding,  a  tavern-kcepir  in  Tryn  Row  oppofite  the  gate  of  the 
upper  barracks,  for  lodging;  that  they  went  u\^  tn  Housing's,  leaving 
Benjamin  ftill  at  Majon's,  and.  after  dufk,  examinant  went  for  Benjamin, 
and  he  and  Benjamin  carried  the  baggage  up,  and  all  three  lodged  at 

Houlding's 


V-_ 


-■•V" 
I 


(  59  ) 


v,_ 


fhuMiig's  (hat  night,  telling  Hou/,/i>,g  Mr.  M(Le<,»  had  fent  and  recom- 
mended ihcm  there  as  a  fafe  hoiife ;  next  morning  Furies  went  to  fee  for 
an  opportunity  to  get  on  board,  and  did  the  like  for  two  or  three  days ; 
Furies  and  Benjamin  (laid  at  Moulding'!  one  week  without  being  able  to 
get  on  board  of  the  man-of-war  ;  William  Benjamin  agreed  to  go  on 
board  the  man-of-war  alfo,  and  accept  the  Governour's  liounty  j  after  the 
firft  week,  as  they  could  not  get  on  board.  Moulding  obfcrved  that  they 
ought  to  be  fpread  about,  for  that  keeping  them  together  would  occafion 
fulpicion  in  his  houfe ;  that  one  Corbie,  who  lives  near  General  Walh- 
ington's,  ufcd  to  rcfort  to  the  houfe  of  Moulding,  where  he  was  introduced 
to  Forbes,  and  this  examinant  alfo  got  acquainted  with  Corbie;  that  many 
Tories  rdorted  to  Moulding's,  amongll  whom  were  two  brothers,  of  the 
name  ot  Fortune,  the  one  a  tanner,  living  in  the  Swamp,  and  the  other 
a  faddlcr,  whom  he  hath  feen  working  at  Cooi'i.  in  the  Broadway;  alfo, 
one  I'ueter  a  filvcrfmith,  who  was  ridden  about  town  for  a  Tory,  and 
another  ot  the  fame  name,  whom  he  takes  to  be  his  brother;  alfo,  a  man 
without  an  arm,  whom  he  believes  to  be  an  old  penfioncr,  and  Gilbert 
Foj/er,  a  gunfmith,  living  oppofite  to  Mr.  MulPs  tavern,  a  fliort,  thick 
man  who  wears  a  white  coat ;  that  thefe  perfons,  as  he  believes,  knew  of 
the  examinani's  intention,  but  did  not  care  to  trull  him,  as  he  had  not 
taken  his  qualification ;  that  examinant  was  qualified  before  the  faid  Gil- 
iert  Forbes,  and  the  faid  H'illiam  Forbes,  at  the  houfe  of  the  faid  Corbie; 
that  William  Forbes  gave  him  the  book,  and  that  they  made  him  fwear 
not  to  divulge  anything  of  what  the  examinant  now  tells;  that  when 
examinant  was  at  lUulding's,  Gilbert  Forbes,  William  Forbes,  and  Corbie, 
advifcd  examinant  to  go  to  Corbie's  houfe  and  work  a  little  in  the  garden 
to  prevent  fufpicion.  Gilbert  Forbes  promifed  examinant  ten  fliillings 
per  week  llibfilknce  money,  of  «  hich  this  examinant  hath,  at  different 
limes,  received  twenty  fix  fhillings  and  eight  pence;  that  the  examinant 
complained  ten  niillings  was  too  little;  Forbes  said  he  could  not  help  it, 
but  he  would  write  to  the  Govcrnour  to  try  to  get  it  increafcd  to  twelve; 
that  he  afterwards  told  examinant  he  could  not  get  an  anfwer,  bccaufe  a 
boat  coming  from  the  Governour  was  near  being  taken,  and  had  thrown 
the  letters  overboard ;  that  William  Benjamin  and  William  Forbes  have 
also  received  money  from  the  faid  Gilbert ;  that,  according  to  the  advice 
of  the  Forbfes  and  Corbie,  went  to  Ci^rbie's,  and   continued    there   until 

laft 


(  6o  ) 


Jaft  SaturJ.iyi   that  while  cxaminant  lived  at  Ihu/Jing's.  Corbie  came 
there  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  brouglit  with  him  a 
mulatto-colored  negro,  drefll'd  in  blue  clothes,  about  five  feet  eight  inches 
high,  well-set,  but  knows  not  his   name  or  to  whom   he  belongs,  but  is 
informed  that  he  hath  fince  been  taken  up  and  put  in  jail ;    when  Coriie 
and  the  negro  came  in  there  was  a  great  deal  of  whifpcring  round  between 
Coriif,  Wiltiiim  Forbes,  the  negro,  and  another  man  who  had  been  wait- 
ing to  get  on  board  and  did  go  on  board  that  evening;    that    afterwards 
the  examinant  and  lVi/li<im  Forbei  had  fomc  convcrfation  about  the  negro  ; 
Ftrbts  told  him  the  negro  was  going  on  board  the  man  of-war  with  that 
man,  and  two  or  three  more,  but  the  craft  was  fo  fmall  it  would  not  car- 
ry them  all  for  fear  of  difcovcry,  wherefore  he,  Benjnmia,  and  H'illiam 
Verba,  were  obliged  to  Hay  behind ;  that  when  this  examinant  was  quali- 
fied, tliere  was  prcfcnt  one  Cl.irke,  who  had  been  a  schoolmafter  about 
eight  or  nine  miles  from  Gojken,  and  with  whom  the  faid  WiU'um  Fortes 
was  acquainted ;  that  the  faid  Clarke  faid  in  the  examinant's  hearing  that 
he  had  cnliftcd  about  fixty  men.  of  whom   he  had  a  lirt,  and  who  were 
ready  to  aflift  when  the  troops  came ;  that  cxaminant  believes  the  lift  was 
given  to  Gilbert  Fortes  to  be  fent  to  the  Governour,  for  that  the  name 
of  the   examinant,  Williw,  Fortei   and    Williom   Benjamin,  were   taken 
down   by  the  faid  Gilbert,  as  this  cxaminant  fuppofes,  to  be  fent  to  the 
Governour ;    that  one  lliekey,  of  the  General's  Guards,  he  believes  to  be 
concerned,  who  is  now  in  confinement;    that  one  Greene,  of  the  Gen- 
eral's Guards,  a  drummer,  is  concerned,  for  that  cxaminant  faw  Gilbert 
Forbes  in  converfation  with  faid  Greene,  but  could   not   hear   them,  and 
fince    that   time    Greene   hath  adminillered  an  oath  to  this    Hickey,  and 
fome  other  foldiers  of  the  General's  Guards,  and,  as  examinant  is  inform- 
ed, is  to  have  one  c'ollur  per  man  from  Fortes,  for  every  man  he  (liall 
inlift ;  one  Barnes,  oi  the  General's  Guards,  one  Johnm,  a  fifcr  of  the 
Guards,  who,  as  well  as  Greene  and  Hickey,  have  been  in  the  regular 
fcrvicc,  are  qualified  for  the  fame  purpofe ;    that  WiWuim   Vunjamin  told 
examinant  he  heard  Gtllert   Fortes  fay  that  he  would  go  to  the  Mayor 
and  gel  one  hundred  pounds  which  he  muft  have ;   that  examinant  and 
William  Forbes,  in  their  way  from  IVilliam  Fortes':  luiufe,  came  to  a  fine 
houfe ;   that  examinant  a(ked  what  fine  houfe  that  wa^ ;   that  Fortes  said 
it  belonged  to  the  brother  of  the  Mayor  of  New-Vork;   that  he  knew 

him 


.1 


(  6i   ) 


him  very  well,  and  had  liccn  there  fcveral  times  and  mull  go  there  now 
to  Icll  him  w hilt  he  was  going  about,  to  know  ',  '  he  had  any  word  to  fend 
to  his  brother,  and  that  the  examinant  muft  walli  o.i  flowly  and  he  would 
overtake  him  j  that,  at  the  door  of  the  houlc  examinant  faw  an  old, 
fliort,  thick,  fat  man;  that  I'eria  llaycd  there  about  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  and  then  followed  and  overlook  the  examinant,  who  a(ked  Foriej 
if  the  Mayor's  brother  had  given  him  any  letter;  Fories  faid  no,  he  had 
only  dcfired  him  to  tell  his  brother  that  he  was  well  j  that  the  Mayor's 
brother  aflied  who  the  examinant  was,  and  Furies  told  him  it  was  a 
young  man  going  upon  the  fame  errand  that  he  was.  Examinant  believes 
GMerl  Fories  is  at  the  head  here,  and  the  Mayor  and  the  Governour. 

James  Masoi*. 
Examined  the  zoth  Jiinf,  1776,  by  us: 

John  Jav, 
GovERNEUR  Morris. 

Lifl  of  perjtns  charged  as  enemies  to  America. 

Waiiiim  Fories,  by  trade  a  tanner  and  currier,  formerly  an  inhabitant 
of  Orange  County. 

ioarw-,  a  tavern-keeper,  (no  (ign,)  four  doors  from  the  corner  of 
Broadway,  oppofite  the  fouth  fide  of  Oj'tuego  market,  in  one  of  the  low 
houfesi   a  fat  man,  with  a  blue  coat. 

William  Benjamin,  an  apprentice  of  Mr.  Erjhine,  now  a  foldier  in 
Captain  Roojnr/t's  Company.     Inquire  of  IVilli.  -i  Leary. 

McLean,  a  fliocmaker,  near  the  Royal  Exchange. 

Thomas  Majon,  a  tavern-keeper,  al  the  fign  uf  the  Highlander,  at  the 
corner  of  Bearer  llreet  and  Broadway. 

James  Jfoulding,  a  tavern-keeper,  in  Tryon  Roar,  oppofite  the  gate  of 
the  upper  barracks,  (no  fign,)  his  name  written  over  the  door;  a  beer 
houfe. 

Ciriie,  a  tavern-keeper,  to  the  fouthcall  of  General  Wajhinglon's  houfe, 
to  the  welhvard  of  Bayarii's  woods,  and  north  of  Lij'penard's  meadow. 

Fortune,  a  tanner,  living  in  the  Swamp. 

One  Fortune. 

Fortune,  a  faddler,  who  works  at  Cooi's,  in  liroadway. 

Fueter,  a  filvcrfinith,  who  was  ridden  upon  a  rail  lately. 

Fueter, 


i 


(  62   ) 


Fueter,  a  brother  of  the  other. 

Giibert  Furbes,  a  guiifinith,  oppofite  to  Hull's  tavern ;  a  fliort  thick 
man,  with  a  white  coat. 

Clarke,  formerly  a  fchoolmafter  about  nine  miles  from  Gojhen. 

James  R,imjay,  Chriftopher  IVyley,  George  Gammell,  three  of  Mr. 
Erjiine's  workmen.     Inquire  of  Williom  hears. 

John  Taylor,  formerly  a  conllable  i.i  this  town. 

Forbes,  a  tavern-keeper,  at  the  fign  of  Robin  Hood. 

■  IcGinnes,  a  penfioncr,  with  one  arm. 

Information  rejfeliing  Dr.  Arren  and  others  at  Jamaica. 

Doftor  Charles  Arden,  wa?  the  perfon  who  inlligatcd  the  Tories  to 
fign  againll  having  a  Congrcfs  or  a  Committee. 

Benjamin  Smith,  (fon  of  Samuel  Smith,  Eig.) 

Robert  Hinchman. 

Thom.ii  Smith,  (fon  of  Thomas  Smith,)  whom  he  threatened  to  hang 
if  he  would  not  fign  a  paper. 

Ij'aac  Leffertje.  Bought  the  Widow  Uelfs  farm.  He  wrote  the  affi- 
davit of  Roelof  Duryee  about  Parfon  Kettlctas,  and  carried  Jiillice 
French  to  Duryee's  for  that  purpofe. 

Captain  Benjamin  Whitehead,  late  Supervifor.  Repeatedly  refufed  to 
communicate  to  the  town  of  Jamaica  certain  letters  from  the  General 
Committee  of  New-fork,  requcHing  the  town  to  be  called  together  to 
elcdl  members  of  a  Committee  or  Congrcfs.  Witncfs:  Waters  Smith, 
or  either  of  the  other  perfons  above  named  or  Captain  Jacob  Wright. 

Alexander  Wallace.     Refides  at  Jamaica,  in  Wat  Smith's  houfe. 

Bcthune.     He  maintains  an  intimacy  with  Henjamin  Whitehead 

and  witli  Dr.  Arden 

Martin,  from  .Antigua.       Dwells  in  Qha-Mihs's  houfe,  oppofite 

the    Meeting-Houfe,  at  a  high  rent.      He    allbcialcs    chiefly  witli  James 
Depeyller. 

Charles  McEvers.     Refides  in  John  Troop's  houfe. 

Thomas  Cologan  and  Flemming  Cologan  frequently  go  to  Creed's  Hill 
to  look  out;  the  two  Dunbar's,  John  William  Livitig/lon,  Jan.,  and  one 
of  the  Cologan's,  were  there  lately,  looking  out  for  a  fleet.  That  the 
Dunbar's  flu't  themfelves  up,  and  refufed  to  train  or  pa\  their  fines. 

John 


t 


(  63  ) 


t 


John  and  William  Dunbar. 

George  Folliot.  Lives  with  Jacques  John/on,  at  Frejh  meadows,  about 
one-and-a-lult"mile  from  Jamaica. 

Theophilact  Bache,  of  Vlatbujh,  Comes  to  Jamaica  to  Alexander 
Wallace's. 

James  Depeyjler.  Lives  next  to  William  Belt's.  His  fon,  Jofeph 
Depeyjler,  has  been  purfued  fcveral  times,  but  cannot  be  tal<en.  He  is 
faid  to  be  a  dangerous  Tory, 


I 


June  21,  1776. 
To  His  Excellency  Geu-ige  WASHtNCTON,  Ej'q.,  General; 

Sir:  Whereas  David  Mallhem,  Efquire,  Hands  charged  with  danger- 
ous defigns  and  treafonable  confpiracies  againll  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
the  United  Colonies  of  America:  We  do,  in  purfuance  of  a  certain 
refolve  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  uf  the  20th  of  June  inftant, 
authorize  and  requeft  you  (o  caufe  the  faid  David  Matlhem  to  be,  with 
all  his  papers,  forthwith  apprehended  and  fecured,  and  that  return  be 
made  to  us  of  tho  manner  in  which  the  warrant  fliall  be  executed,  in 
order  that  the  fame  may  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrefs. 
Given  under  our  hands,  this  21ft  day  of  June,  1776. 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR  MoRRIS. 

General  Greene  is  defired  to  have  the  within    warrant    executed  with 
precifion,  and  exadly  by  one  o'clock  the  enfuing   morning,  by  a  careful 


oflicer. 

Friday  afternoon,  June  21,  ;776. 


GeoRGE  Washington. 


Long-Idand,  June  22,  1776, 
In  obedience  to  the  within  order  and  warrant,  I  fcnt  a  detachment  of 
my  brigade,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Vernon,  to  the  houfe  of  the 
"■  within 


(  6+  ) 


within-namcd  D.ivid  Matthews,  Efq.,  at  Vi.itbufl;,  who  furroundcd  his 
houle  and  fcizcd  his.  perlbn  prccilciy  at  the  hour  of  one  this  morning. 
After  having  made  him  a  priloncr,  diligent  fcarch  was  made  after  his 
'  papers,  but  none  could  be  found,  notwithllanding  great  care  was  taken 
that  none  of  the  family  fliould  have  the  leall  opportunity  to  remove  or 
dcftroy  them. 

Nathaniel  Green. 

Flatlands,  Friday,  June  21,  1776. 

Mrs.  BaiwtRTON  prcfents  her  compliments  to  Captain  Thomas  Randall, 
and  begs  to  aciiuaint  him  that  when  (he  returned  from  the  city  to  her 
family  at  I'latlands,  (lie  found  a  fummons  left  at  the  houfe  by  a  pcrfon 
from  the  Congrefs  for  Mr.  Brewertun  to  attend  on  them  at  10  o'clock 
this  day.  She  begs  it  as  a  favour  of  Captain  Randall  to  acquaint  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Congrefs  thai  it  has  not  been  in  her  power  to  make  Mr. 
nremrton  acquainted  with  it,  as  he  went  out  yelk-rday  morning  fidiing 
and  do(.  not  expeft  to  return  till  this  evening  or  to  morrow.  On  his 
return  flic  will  acquaint  him  with  the  lummons,  and  makes  no  doubt  but 
he  will  ini mediately  attend  the  Congrefs. 

To  Captain  7%mas  Randall. 


Scott's  Tavern,  in  Wall  Itreet,  June  22,  1776. 

The  cotnmittec  met  purfui-nt  to  adjournment.  Prcfent :  Mr.  Hoiart 
Mr.  Tredu'ill,  Colf)nel  draham,  Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  U.mjnoort. 

The  Committee  uinnimouny  chofe  Mr.  Hoiart  Chairman  pro  tempore. 

}\  hitthead  Hicks,  VM^.,  attending  on  a  fummons  returnable  this  day, 
was  called  in.  The  Chairman  read  to  him  part  of  the  Relblutions  of 
the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  relative  to  perfons  of  equivocal  charader, 
and  defiled  him  to  (how  caufe  to  this  Committee  why  he  (liould  be  con- 
udcred  as  a  (riend  to  the  caufe  and  rights  of  Aimriia. 

Ml-.  Hicks  fays  the  caufe  he  can  (how  is  only  negative;  that  he  defies 
envy  itfelf  to  fliow  an>  thing  in  his  conduct  that  is  againll  his  country  ; 
that  he  \vn  for  many  years  held  honourable  and  lucrative  Crown  oflices, 
dnfolicilcd,  and  repeatedly  fworn  allegiance  t,)  the  Crown  ;  that  in  this 
fituation,  were  his  nerves  Itrongcr,  he  would  not  willingly  perfonally  take 

up 


(  65  ) 


up  arms  on  the  part  of  the  country ;  that  his  father  and  brothers  are 
ftr^ngly  attached  to,  and  engaged  in,  the  American  caufe;  that  he  there- 
fore, as  well  as  from  principle,  will  never  he  induced  to  take  up  arms 
again*  his  country  ;  that  fome  of  his  near  relations  are  in  the  C)ntinemal 
Army  ;  that  he  never  advifed  or  dilTuaded  any  perfon,  not  even  his  fer- 
vants  or  domcllicks,  in  thefe  r  afures ;  that  his  fcrvant  has  been  engaged 
in  this  country's  fcrvice  from  the  firft  of  thefe  troubles,  and  is  now 
artually  ferving  in  the  troops  raifed  in  this  Colony,  without  the  leaft  con- 
tradiftion  or  difluafion  on  his  part. 

Mr.  Ukks  was  then  afkcd  liy  the  Chairman  whether,  in  his  opinion, 
the  nntijh  P.irliamcnt  has  a  right  to  tax  America?  He  replied  that  he 
would  be  very  unwilling  to  be  taxed  by  the  Britijh  Parliament. 

The  Chairman  then  afked  him  whether  he  was  willing  to  fubfcribe  the 
Amxi^iiion  made  by  the  Provincial  Congrcfs  on  the  20th  inftant ;  to 
whidi  he  replied  that  he  could  not  fign  it  becaufe  he  could  not  take  up 
arms,  and  that,  as  an  honcll  man,  ho  -ould  not  llgn  anything  which  he  did 
not  mean  10  perform. 

.Vlr.  Uicks  was  then  aflced  liy  th?  Chairman  whether  he  thought  the 
prefent  meafurcs  of  the  Colonies  in  defending  by  arms  juftifiablc.  To 
this  he  replied  that  arms  were  the  lall  refort,  and  jullifiable  where  neccf- 
firy  as  the  lall  refort;  but  that  he  has  not  fully  examined  or  confidercd 
whether  every  other  necedliry  expedient  had  been  previoufly  ufed. 
Mr.  llich  withdrew. 

Rejohed,  ummimoufy.  That  WhiteheaJ  Jlich,  Efq.,  is  not  fuch  a 
friend  to  the  caufc  and  rights  of  America  as  is  mentioned  in  the  Refolu- 
tions  of  the  Congrcfs  of  the  5  th  day  of  JTune  inlknt. 

Rc/o/ieJ  unanimoujly.  That  it  is  not  nccelFary  to  -emovc  Mr.  Uicks 
from  his  prefent  place  of  refidcnee. 

Rejilvc.l  im.wimoufy,  Tliat  Mr.  Uick's  Parole  be  taken  that  he  will 
not  oppofc  or  contravene  the  meafurcs  of  the  Continental  Congrcfs  or 
the  C:ongrefs  of  this  Colony,  and  that  his  Parole  is  fulhcient  (ecurity. 

Mr.  llicks  was  called  in  and  informed  of  the  determinations  of  the 
Commitiee,  and  a  copy  of  the  Parole  delivered  to  him. 

Mr.  Uicks  read  the  copy  of  the  Parole,  and  declared  that  he  would 
wilh  10  conlider  whether  this  Parole  might  in  any  maimer  interfere  with 
his  oith  and  oflicc  of  a  Judge,  but  had  not  any  other  objeaion  10  it. 

The 


(66) 


The  Committee  informed  Mr.  Ilicks  that  lie  might  take  time  to  con 
fider  of  it. 

Mr.  Hick:  rcqueftcd,  and  the  Committee  confcnted,  that  Mr.  Hkks 
confider  tiicreof  until  Monday  next,  then  to  return  the  faid  Parole  figncd 
or  to  call  on  this  Committee. 

An  order  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  of  the  2 1  ft  inftant,  relative 
to  Samuel  Whitten,  referring  his  cafe  to  this  Committee,  was  read,  and 
is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

A  letter  from  Rol,rrt  11.  llarrifon.  General  Wajhingtotfs  Secretary, 
cnclofing  a  letter  from  General  lland,  relative  to  a  fufpeitcd  dangerous 
man  named  Samuel  WhiUen,  was  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  That  the  laid  Letter  be  referred  to  the  Secret  Committee. 

The  Letter  from  Colonel  Hand,  exhibiting  the  charges  againft  the  faid 
Samuel  Whitlcri,  was  alfo  read,  and  taken  into  confideration. 

Tlie  faid  Samuel  Whitten  was  called  in.  He  (ays  he  crolTed  th';  ferry 
in  a  boat  with  fome  officers  en  Thurjday  laft;  that  he  was  fonie  thing  in 
liquor,  and  fpoke  Ibnie  thing  too  free.  He  then  related  the  converf.ition 
with  the  officers  during  his  paflagc  acrofs  the  ferry.  He  further  fays  that 
he  has  been  drafted  for  in  Captain  Buchanan's  Company,  in  which  com- 
pany he  is  a  Sergeant ;  that  he  voluntarily  offered  to  take  a  chance  of 
being  drafted  ;  thai  had  he  not  been  in  the  ftate  he  was  he  would  not 
have  f'id  what  he  did  at  that  time.  Whitten  further  favs  that  he  thinks 
the  Americans  are  right  ir.  their  refiftance  by  arms,  and  that  he  is  willing 
to  take  up  arms  and  defend  the  country ;  that  he  only  mentioned  it  as 
his  opinion  that  the  troops  would  land  at  Long  IJland :  that  he  never 
had  any  information  of  that  kind. 

The  faid  Samuel  Whitten  fubfcribed  the  AITociatinn  made  by  the 
Congrefs  of  thu  Colony  on  the  26lh  inllant. 

Thereupon,  Rcj'alved,  That  Samuel  Whitten  be  difcharged,  and  per- 
mitted to  go  at  large. 

Mr  Samuel  Martin,  attending  purfuant  to  a  fummons  from  this  Com- 
mittee returnable  this  day,  was  called  in.  He  fays  he  attends  in  piirfu- 
ancc  of  a  Cnnimons  received  laft  week. 

The  Chairman  read  to  him  the  Refolutions  of  the  Congrefs  of  this 
Colony  of  20th    inftant,  relative  to  perlbns  of  equivocal    charaacr,  and 

defired 


(  67  ) 


delircd  him  to  lliow  caufe,  if  any  he  had,  why  he  (hould  be  confidered 
as  a  friend  to  the  American  caufe. 

Mr.  Martin  fays  he  has  never  done  anything  againll  the  country,  and 
is  not  an  enemy  to  the  country ;  that  he  always  meant  to  remain  as 
peaceable  and  inaftive  as  he  could. 

The  Chairman  aflccd  Mr.  Martin  if  he  chofe  to  be  confidered  as  a 
friend  to  the  American  caufe,  and  as  one  of  thofe  who  are  willing  to  rifle 
their  lives  and  fortunes  in  defence  of  America,  Mr.  Martin  declared 
he  lliould  be  forry  to  be  confidered  as  an  enemy  to  the  country,  and 
never  meant  to  lift  an  4rm  againft  America. 

The  Chairman  informed  him  that  he  now  had  an  opportunity  to  dif- 
linguifli  himfelf  as  the  friend  of  America. 

He  replied  that  he  was  ready  to  give  any  aiTu^anccs  that  he  would  not 
take  any  aiilive  part  againft  America;  that  he  never  mean:  to  take  up 
arms. 

Mr.  Martin  being  aflted  whether,  in  his  opinion,  the  Britijh  Parlia- 
ment has  a  right  to  tax  America,  he  replied  that,  in  his  opinion,  the  Par- 
liament has  not  a  right  te  lay  internal  ri\cs  on  the  Colonics.  Being 
aflced  whether  he  did  not  think  a  tax  on  perfonal  ellates  was  equally 
imcDnl'titutional,  he  replied  that  he  did  net,  if  it  was  for  the  regulation  of 
trade ;  but  that  he  is  not  a  pohlician,  and  has  confined  his  ftudies  to  his 
own  profelTion. 

Mr.  Martin  when  alkcd  wliether  he  would  give  fecurity  that  he  would 
ni  t  oppofe  or  contravene  the  meafures  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  of 
the  Congrefs  ot  •hi'^  Colony.  He  replied  that  he  would,  but  that  he  did 
not  know  of  any  perfon  i  this  city  to  ap'My  to  to  be  his  fecurity,  that  he 
would  apply  to  his  father,  who  refidcs  on  Long-Ijland,  who  would  be  his 
fecurity. 

Mr.  Martin  withdrew. 

Refolved,  unanimiujly,  that  Samuel  Mi  '■tin  Is  not  a  friend  to  the  Ameri- 
can caufe. 

The  Chairman  then  put  the  qiielHcm,  whether  it  is  neceflliry  to  remove 
Samuel  Martin  from  his  prcfent  place  of  refidencc.' 

Tlic  Committee  unaninioudy  agreed  that  they  have  not  futliiient  infor- 
mation to  detirmine  that  quellio;i  at  prcfent,  and  tl'''reforc  agiced  to 
defer  the  further  coiifid'-ration  the;  jof  till  to-morrow  morning. 

Mr. 


(  68  ) 


Mr.  mrtin  was  called  in  and  informed  thcicof  and  dcfircd  to  attend 
at  the  City  Hall  to-morrow  morning,  at  ten  o'clock. 

Robert  l-mon,  of  the  City  of  AVr^-Jlr-f.  Brafs-foimdcr.  being  fworn. 
faith  :  Tha'  five  or  lix  weeks  ago,  at  hi;,  own  hoiife,  one  /,„„/.  Lclce. 
mailer  o,  a  periagua  of  John  llapalye,  a/ked  him  if  there  was  any  fuch 
thmg  as  getting  rifles  in  town.  Deponent  anfwcred  that  he  did  not  be- 
lieve there  was  one.  Lofec  faid  he  bc^lieved  there  were  many,  for  that 
he  had  been  applied  to  to  carry  a  confiderablc  number  of  them  on  board 
the  ^J,.,.  Deponent  a&ed  him  by  wh.n>.  He  replied  that  he  would 
not  tell,  but  that  he  ha.l  refufed  to  take  th.:m.  That  deponent  has  hoard 
i.nce  that  llie  faid  rifl.:.,  were  afterwards  carried  on  board,  but  did  not 
uiidcr!b.,d  ',y  whom. 

o  1  ,     ,  RoHER       FknTON. 

Sworn  the  2  2d  June,  1  .ore  us: 

Philip  Livincston, 
John  ]\\. 

Tho-nm  FUtchn,  a  Private  in  Captain   AVktA  Compat.y  of  artillery 
being  Iworn  f.ith  :     Tl,at  this  deponent  was  lately  a  private  in  Colonel 
Humngd^n^s  Regiment,  in  Captain  TrucMdp's  Company  ;  that  about  a 
month  ago  one  John  Von.pk'll,  a  fl,oen,aker,  living   next  door  to  the  .Ign 
ot  the  Buck,  oppoilte  to  the  wcllern   fule  of  the  Fly  market,  employed 
him  to  work  as  a  journeyman  with  him  at  fuch   times  as  he  was  not  on 
duty;  that  after  deponent  had  worked  with  him  a  while,  he  was  pleafcd 
with  deponent's  work  and  endeavored  to  perluade   him  to  inlill.  faying. 
'  Damn  the  Congrefs ;    who  gave  them    libertv  to  raife  (i.ldiers '    Come 
with  me,  I  will  conceal  you,  or  fend  yru  off,  as  I  have  done  with  two  or 
three    others ;'  that  deponent  eonlented,  and    was    concealed  by  him  for 
two  weeks  and  a  half,  and   findir.g  tha.  he  could   „o,  clear  his  confcience 
m  what  he  had  done,  he  fent  f>r  his  comrade  and  delivered   himlelf  up 
a..d    hath  ever  fmcc  done  his  duty  as  a  foldier;    he  has  frequentiv  heard 
the  laid  Campbell  n^  converfation  curfe  the  Congrcf,  -  fay  he  wifl.ed  the 
whole  .o«n  were  all  Tories,  and  that  the  Mayor  was  as  big  a  one  as  any 
in  it.     And  further  this  deponent  faith  not. 


Sworn  the  22d  Jum,  1776,  before  us: 


Thomas  Fietchp.r. 

John  Jay, 
GouvERNouR  Morris. 

Diiniel 


(  69  ) 


Daniel  dray,  of  StiimfirJ,  in  Conneilicut,  being  fworn,  faith:  Tiiat 
Niilhiiniel  Wi/liarm,  of  lluntingdun,  toKi  him  tlic  day  before  ycfterday 
thai  a  gentleman  had  reported  there  that  as  lie  was  by  a  fence  by  the 
road,  Hugh  Wiill,ice,  Tkcophilnct  liuche,  Ckarles  McEvers,  and  three 
others,  whofe  names  this  deponent  iiath  forgotten,  pafTed  by  and  he  over- 
heard tlicm  faying  that  the  enemy  were  to  land  at  Rapafye's  mills,  take 
pofleflion  of  the  forts  on  Long-ljland,  and  thence  play  on  the  town,  and 
thai  tliey  were  to  be  joined  by  the  forces  on  Long-Ifland.  And  further 
faiti.  not. 

Daniel  Gray. 

Sworn  the  22d  day  of  June,  1776  : 

Philip  Livingston, 

John  Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR    MoRRIS. 


Hugh  Sicvcnjon,  being  duly  fworn  on  the  Holy  Evangclift  of  Almighty 
fiW,  depofeth  and  faith:  That  on  the  iHtli  of  this  \\\Ain\.  June  he 
bought  fifteen  pcnmds  of  powder  of  Mr.  NichoLis  C'onery,  at  the  fign  of 
the  Ped  Lion,  between  Ihiteman's  and  littrling's  flip,  in  New-York,  and 
that  lome  linie  pall  lie  (this  deponent)  bought  ten  pounds  of  the  laid 
L'onery,  and  that  he  fuppofed  it  e^niie  from  on  board  the  Afia.  And 
further  ihis  deponent  failh  not. 

Sworn  before  me  this  zzd  day  of  June,  1776. 

Abel  Belknap. 
( 'hiiir'n  Com.  Injfn  fir  Freeing  of  Netvburgh. 

Corneluis  Plr.lt,  being  fworn,  depofeth  and  faith?  That  he  came  from 
New-1'ork  with  Mr.  li\'gh  Steven/on  in  hh  boat  lall  WeJnej'Jay ;  that 
on  his  naflage  Mr.  Ste'injon  told  him  he  had  foine  thing  on  board,  that 
if  it  was  found  out  it  would  be  as  much  as  his  neck  and  his  whole  floop 
were  worth.  This  deponent  alked  Mr.  Steven/on  what  it  was,  Stevenfon 
anfwcred  it  was  fifteen  pounds  of  powder;  who  was  afked  if  it  was  our 
country  powder.  He  faid  not ;  it  came  from  ihe  Aji<i  man-of-war.  He 
further  alked  him  what  he  expected  to  do  with  it.  His  anfwcr  was,  that 
he  expected  to  fell  it  at  one  dollar  per  pound  ;  that  fifteen  pounds  of 
powder,  would  fetch  him  filicen  dollars.  The  deponent  further  faith 
that  he  and  Mr.  Stet'enjhn  had  fome  difcourfe  about  the  times,  when  Mr. 

Stez'en/oH 


(  70  ) 


r/ 


Steven/on  told  him  that  he  expc-acd  that  all  thcfc  ofiiccrs  would  foon  be 
fwung  up,  and  the  deponent  took  it  that  he  meant  all  thefe  Continental 
officers.  At  the  lall  of  the  time  this  deponent  afked  Steven/on,  whether 
he  intended  to  fell  his  powder  to  the  Tories.  He  told  him  he  did  not. 
And  further  this  deponent  faith  not. 

Sworn  before  me  this  22d  day  of  June,  1776. 

Abel  Belknap. 
Chair'n  Cm.  Injfn  for  Precinii  of  Neviiurgh, 

To  Captain  .-\beel: 

Sir  :  Whereas  Peter  McLean  of  the  City  of  New-Tork,  Slioemakcr, 
Hands  charged  with  dangerous  defigns  and  treafonabic  confpiracies  againft 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  United  Colonics  of  America:  We  do,  in 
purfuance  of  a  certain  rcfolve  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  of  the  20th 
of  June  inftant,  authorize  and  requell  you  to  caufe  the  faid  Peler  McLean 
to  be,  with  all  his  papers,  forthwith  apprehended  and  fccurcd,  and  that 
return  be  made  to  us  of  the  manner  in  which  this  warrant  (hall  be  exe- 
cuted, in  order  that  the  fame  may  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrefs. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  zzd  day  of  June,  1776. 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jav, 

GoUVERNEUR  MoRRIS. 

To  William  Allison,  Ejquire,  and  Colonel  Clinton,  or  either  of  them. 
Gentlemen:  Whereas  Jama  Matthews  Hands  charged  with  dangerous 
dcfigiis  and  treafonable  confpiracies  againll  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
United  Colonies  of  America :  We  do,  in  purfuance  of  a  certain  refoKe 
of  the  Congrefs  of  ihis  Colony  of  the  20th  of  June  inllanr,  authorize 
and  requell  you  to  caufe  the  faid  James  Matthews  to  be,  with  all  his 
papers,  forthwith  apprehended  and  fecured,  and  that  return  be  made  to 
us  of  the  manner  in  which  this  warrant  fliall  be  executed,  in  order  that 
the  fame  may  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrefs. 
Given  under  our  hands  this  22d  day  of  June,  1776. 

Philip  Livingston, 
Gouverneur   Morris, 
John  Jav. 

The 


(  71   ) 


The  within  named  Jama  Matthewi,  taken  at  his  place  of  abode  in 
Cornwall  Precinft,  Orange  County,  purfuant  to  the  within  warrant,  and 
delivered  to  the  Committee,  but  no  papers  containing  information  relative 
to  the  confpiracy. 

Per  me,  William  Allison. 

New-York,  June  2;,  1776. 

To  Wii.i.iAM  Allison  and  Colonel  Clinton,  or  either  of  them. 

Gentlemen:   Whereas  William  Forletdnd  C/zr/fi' ftand  charged 

with  dangerous  defigns  and  trcafonable  confpiracies  againll  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  United  Colonics  of  America:  We  do,  in  purfuance  of  a 
certain  rcfolve  of  the  Congrcfs  of  this  Colony  of  the  20lh  of  June 
inllant,  authorize  and  requell   you  to  caufc  the  faid  William  Furies  and 

Clarke  to  be,  with  all  their    papers,  forthwith    apprehended    and 

fecured,  and  that  return  be  made  to  us  of  the  mannncr  in  which  this 
warrant  fhall  be  executed,  in  order  that  the  fame  may  be  made  known  to 
the  laid  Congrefs. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  2 2d  day  of  June,  iyj6. 

Philip  Livingston, 
GouvERNEUR   Morris, 
John  Jay. 

In    purfuance  of  the    within    warrant,    went  in  fearch  of  the    within 

named  William    ForWs    and  Clarke  to  the   upper  end  of   Orange 

County,  their  ufual  place  of  abode,  but  found  they  were  gone  off;  but  on 
returning  10  Nezv-t'ork,  found  them  in  cullody  of  the  guards. 

William  Allison. 

New-York,  June  2;,  1776. 


To  Captain  Aheei.  : 

Sir  :  Wliercas,  John  Campbell  Hands  charged  with  dangerous  defigns 
and  trcafonable  confpiracies  againll  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  United 
Colonies  ot  America:  We  do  in  purfuance  of  a  certain  refolve  of  the 
Congrefs  of  this  Colony  of  the  20th  of  June  inllant,  authorize  and 
requeft  you  to  caufe  the  faid  John  Campbell  to  be,  with  all  his  papers, 
L  forthwith 


(    72    ) 


forthwith  apprehended  and  fecurcd,  and  that  return  be  made  to  us  of  the 
manner  in  which  this  warrant  fhail  be  executed,  in  order  that  the 
fame  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrcfs. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  22d  day  of  June,  1776. 

John  Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR    MoRRlS, 

Philip  Livingston. 
To  General  Greene,  Najjfau  IJI.md : 

Sir  :  Whereas  George  ISrewerlo,,,  Efq.,  (tands  cliargcd  with  dangerous 
defigns  and  treifonable  confpiracics  againll  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the 
United  Colonies  of  J,neric., :  We  do,  in  purfuancc  of  a  certain  refolvc 
of  the  Congrcfs  of  this  Colony  of  the  20th  of  June  inlhuit,  authorize 
and  requeft  you  to  caufe  the  laid  George  Bretverton  to  be,  will-,  all  his 
papers,  forthwith  apprehended  and  fecurcd,  and  that  return  be  made  to 
us  of  the  manner  in  which  this  warrant  (hall  be  executed,  in  order  that 
the  fame  may  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrcfs. 
Given  under  our  hands  this  22d  day  of  June,  1776. 

Philip  Livingston, 
Gouverneur  Morris, 
John  J  ,v. 

Camp  Long-[fland,  June  22,  1776. 
Captain  Jeremiah  Alnev  : 

You  will  take  fuch  a  parly  out  of  the  brigade  as  will  be  ncccflary  to 
carry  the  within  order  of  Congrcfs  into  execution,  and  fervc  Bretverton 
with  this  warrant,  feize  his  pcrfon,  and  fecure  his  papers,  agreeable  to  the 
within  warrant,  as  foon  as  may  be,  and  bring  him  and  them  to  me,  and 
report  your  doings  herein. 

Nathaniel  Greene. 


June  25th.— Captain  Jlney  has  made  two  attempts,  agreeable  to  the 
report  accompanying  this,  to  take  Alderman  Prewerton  prifoncr,  but 
was  not  succefsful.  This  day  he  came  and  delivered  himfdf  up.  Have 
fent  him  under  the  care  of  Captain  Brown. 

Nathaniel  Greene. 

June 


i   73   ) 

June  23,  1776. 

Samp/cn  Dyckmait  now  prcfcnt,  returns,  ihat  he  left  ihe  fummons 
dircftcd  to  James  Jauncty,  Jun.,  Elij.,  on  IhurJ'day  lall,  with  the  mailer 
of  the  houCe  where  Mr.  Jauncey  lodge?,  who  then  informed  him  that 
Mr.  Jaunay  was  gone  abroad  «ilh  his  wife,  and  had  been  abfcnt  fome 
days,  but  was  cxpcfted  to  return  on  that  or  the  next  day. 

That  he  delivered  the  fummonfcs  diredk-d  to  Wi/iiam  Axlelt,  David 
Malthetis,  Charles  McEvers,  and  Whitrkead  Hicks,  Efquires,  to  thcm- 
fclves  refpectively,  Thurjday  lall,  and  on  the  fame  day  left  the  fummonj 
direrted  to  (horgc  Brczuerton,  Efq.,  at  his  lodgings  at  Fktlands,  with  a 
woman  there,  faid  to  be  his  houfekeepcr. 

That  on  Friday  laft  he  delivered  the  fummons  dircftcd  to  Thomas 
Jones,  Samuel  Martin,  and  Gcor^^e  D.  Ludlow,  Efcjuires,  to  thenifelvcs 
refpedtively ;  that  on  that  day  he  delivered  the  fummons  diredkd  to  Ga- 
briel Ludlow  to  a  woman  in  his  houi'e,  laid  to  be  Mrs.  Ludlow,  his  wife, 
who  informed  him  that  Mr.  Gabriel  Ludlow  was  not  at  home;  and  that 
he  alio  lett  the  fummons  direrted  to  Samuel  Clowes  at  his  houfe,  with  his 
wife,  who  faid  he  was  not  at  home. 

That  on  Saturday  morning  lall  he  delivered  the  fummonfes  direflcd  to 
Archibald  Hamilton,  David  Colden,  and  John  Willett,  Efquires,  to  them- 
felves  refpcelively  ;  that  the  fummons  diretled  to  Richard  Colden,  he 
delivered  to  a  woman  at  his  houfe,  whom  he  fuppofed  to  be  his  wife ; 
that  each  fummons  which  he  did  not  ferve  perfonally,  he  defired  the  per- 
fon  to  whom  he  delivered  !t  to  fend  or  deliver  it  to  the  pcrfon  to  whom 
it  was  direiled  as  foon  as  poflible.  That  the  lummons  directed  to  Thom- 
as Hicks,  at  Rockaway,  he  delivered  to  the  Secretary  after  his  return  to 
New-Tork,  as  the  laid  Thomas  Hicks  is  deceafed  upwards  of  four  months 
ago,  from  the  bell  information  which  he  could  obtain. 

NeH-York,  June  23,  1776. 
Gentlemen:  .According  to  your  orders  of  the  22d  inllant  to  me,  I 
have  taken  all  tlic  prifoners  mentioned  in  them,  to  wit :  William  Forbes, 
John  Clark,  Anthony  Clark,  and  John  Campbell,  whom  I  have  delivered 
to  the  guard,  and  am  ready  to  execute  any  furtlier  commands  1  Iliall 
receive,  having  the  guard  for  this  day. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  moll  humble  fervant, 

James  Abeel. 


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(  74  ) 

Dat'iJ  Matthews,  Efq.,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Ncvi-Yorh,  being  exam- 
ined, faith :   That  about  fix  or  fcven  weei(s  ago  the  cxaminant  went  on 
board    the    Dutcbefi-of-Girdon,  by  perininion  of  General   Putnam,  to 
obtain  from  the  Govcrnour  permifTion  for  lord  DrummorJ  to  go  to  Ber- 
muda ;    that  as  the  cxaminant  was    about  to  leave  the  Dutchefs,  the  Gov- 
ernour  toolc  him  into  his  private  room,  and  put  a  bundle  of  paper  money 
into  his  hands,  telling  examinant  to  take  out  five  pounds  and  give  it  to  the 
prifoners  in  the  Jail,  and  pay  the  remainder  to  Gilbert  Forbes,  for  fomc 
rifles  and  round->ored  guns  which  he  had  made  for  him,  and  for  others 
which  the  faid  Fortes  was  to  make,  and  to  tell  Forks  that  he  did    not 
want  any  more  rifles ;    that  this  cxaminant  was  fiirprifed  to  hear  that  the 
faid  Forbes  was  engaged  in  that  bufmefs,  and  at  the  fame  time  thought 
that   Govcrnour  7'ryon   had    put  a  matter  on  his  flioulders  which    might 
bring  him  into  fome  difficulty ;    that  the  examinant,  on  his  return  to  this 
city,  confulted  a  friend  of  his,  telling  him  that  he  would  mention  a  mat- 
ter to  him   which  he  believed    would    furprife  him;,  and  then    informed 
him  that  Gilbert  Forbes  had  fupplied  the  Govcrnour  with  a  number  of 
arms,   and    was   employed  in  that    bufincfs;   and    that   examinant   had 
brought  up  the  money  to  pay  him,  at  the  fame  time  mentioning  that  he 
thought  the  Govcrnour  had  put  a  hard  ta/k  on  his  flioulJers  j  that  examin- 
ant then  advifcd  with    him  what  he  fliould  do,  and  aflced  him  whether 
he  would    take  the   money  and  endeavor  to  convey  it  to  him    privatciv, 
which  he  declined  doing,  and  faid  that  he  would  mention  the  matter  fo  to 
Gilbert   Forbes  as  tl^at   he  would    be  able  to  determine   by  his  anfwcrs 
whether  he  was  the  man ;  that  to  this  cxaminant  confenlcd  ;  that  examin- 
ant, after  leaving  his  friend,  concluded  that  it  would  be  belt    not  to  pay 
the  faid  money  to  Forbes,  but  to  delay  it  as  long  as  poflible,  thai  in  cafe  of  a 
difcovcry,  the  cxaminant  might  avail  himfelfof  not  having  paid,  although 
he  had  received  the  faid  money ;    that    fliortly  after  Forbes  called  on  this 
examinant,  and  :old  him  that  he  had  been  defircd   by  the  gentleman  to 
whom    this  cxaminant   had    mentioned  it,  to  call  on  him  for  the  money 
cxaminant  had  received  for  him  of  Govcrnour  Tryon;  that  cxaminant  then 
alked  him  if  it  were  poffibic  that  he  had  been  fending  guns  on  board  the 
Governour's  fliip  j  to  w  hich  he  anfwcred  in  the  affirmative  ;  that  examin- 
ant then  told  him  he  would  be  hanged  if  he  was  found  out,  and  rcqueded 
him,  if  he  regarded  his  fufcty,  that  he  would  not  go  on  with  fuch  fchcmesj 

that 


(  75  ) 

that  he  faid  he  could  fend  them  on  board  in  fuch  a  way  that  nobody 
could  find  it  out ;  that  he  had  fcnt  them  on  board  in  a  canoe  or  boat, 
covered  with  a  llraw  bed,  and  two  or  three  old  chairs  upon  it;  that  he 
then  aflccd  cxaminant  to  pay  him  the  money;  to  which  examinant 
anfwered,  that  he  was  to  receive  money,  and  as  foon  as  he  got  it,  he 
would  pay  it  to  him  ;  on  which  they  parted ;  that  a  few  days  after  he 
called  on  examinant  again  to  know  whether  examinant  had  received  the 
money,  for  that  he  wanted  it  very  much  j  examinant  told  him  he  had  not ; 
and  the  better  to  account  for  delays,  the  examinant  had  recourfc  to  this 
fubterfuge,  that  the  Governour  had  given  him  pofitive  orders  not  to 
receive  any  payments  for  him  but  in  Tork  or  JerJ'ey  money  ;  that  with 
this  he  fecmed  plcafed,  and  requefted  examinant  to  pay  him  in  that 
money,  becaufe  with  it  he  could  purchafe  certain  articles  ncieflary  in  his 
bufinefs  cheaper  than  with  any  other;  that  he  then  informed  examinant 
that  he  had  a  number  of  men  whom  he  wanted  to  fend  down  to  the 
Governour ;  that  examinant  told  him  that  he  might  fave  himfelf  that  trou- 
ble, for  that  the  Governour  had  told  this  examinant  that  he  had  been 
obliged  to  turn  many  on  fhore,  and  could  not  receive  any  more;  on 
which  i'VM  e.'.-prcflcd  fome  concern  as  to  what  he  (hould  do  with  them; 
on  which  examinant  dcfired  him  to  tell  the  men  to  go  to  their  homes 
and  drop  any  fuch  fchcmcs ;  that  fliortly  after  the  faid  Forbes  again 
called  on  this  examinant  for  the  money,  and  mentioned  a  fcheme  of  raif 
ing  a  company,  and  requefted  to  know  whether  he  could  have  a  commif- 
fion ;  that  examinant,  on  this,  begged  of  him  to  dcfift  from  fuch  a 
fcheme,  for  that  he  would  certainly  be  difcovered,  and  the  gallows  would 
be  his  lot,  and  that  it  would  be  lime  enough  for  him  to  inliil  men  or 
a6\  when  he  got  his  commiflion ;  that  he  faid  he  could  carry  it  on  fo  as 
not  to  be  found  out,  and  that  he  could  inlift  a  number  of  the  General's 
Guards;  that  on  this  they  parted ;  that  this  examinant  then  found  out 
that  Mr.  Forks  became  fo  troublefomc  to  him  that,  in  order  to  get  out 
of  his  way  and  ftave  off  the  payment  aforefaid,  this  examinant  kept  more 
in  the  country  than  he  would  otherwife  have  done;  then,  on  Fc-bes  find- 
ing this,  he  purfued  examinant  up  to  FlatbuJ):,  and  not  finding  him  there, 
purfued  him  to  Polhemus,  about  four  miles  from  Jamaica,  in  order  to 
get  his  money ;  that  this  examinant,  finding  there  was  no  way  to  get  rid 
of  him,  told    him  that  on  Monday  examinant  would  come  to  town   and 

pay 


(  76  ) 


pay  h,m  his  money,  which  was  accordingly  done,  viz:   one  hun-rod  and 
fourteen  pounc's  eight  fliiljings,  and  examinant  then  hoped  tl.at  he  fliould 
not  be  plagued  with    him  any  more ;   that  the  next  dav  examinant    again 
came  to  town,  and  had  been  in  his  houfe  but  a  tew  minutes  when  Forhe, 
came  mto  cxaminant's  office;    that  examinant   told    him  he  mull    never 
come  into  cxaminant's  office  any  more,  on  which  he  went  away  without 
raying  a  word;    that  John  Toung,  the  cxaminant's  clerk,  was  prefent 
and   then  in   the  faid  office,   and  that  examinant  has  not  feen  the  faid 
Forba   fincc;    that  at  the  time  when   the  faid    i-VM  called  on  the  ex- 
aminant as  aforefaid.  he  mentioned  to  this  examinant  a  fcheme  he  had 
ot  taking  poiTeffion  of  one  of  the  batteries  when  the  fleet  arrived,   and 
another  fcheme  of  cutting  down  K-ng^s  bridge;    that  this  examinant 
defired  his  friend  above-mentioned  to  advife  and  beg  the  f.id  Forbes  to 
defift  from  the  faid  meafures  and  give  them  over;   that  this  examinant 
has  never  fincc  or  before  received  from  Govcrnour  Tryo,,  any  other  fum 
whatever  for  any  fuch  purpofes  whatever.     That  (hortlv  before  the  time 
wh«n  this  examinant  paid  the  aforc-fald  money  to  the  faid  Forbes,  this 
examinant  was  at   WMrch   Ferry,    Handing  near  John  Carpenter's 
floop.   and   that   the  faid  Fortes,   being   in  company  with  one  Sergeant 
Gr,h<,m,  turned  off  from  faid  Gr^h.,m  and  came  up  to  this  examinant; 
thrt  this  examinant  alkcd  him  where  he  had  been ;  he  anfwcred  that  he 
had  been  to  look  at  all  the  fortifications;  examinant  a/kcd  him  whether 
h^'  was  not  afraid  of  being  taken  up  by  the  fentries,  ,o  which  he  replied 
iha.  he  was  not.  for  that  he  could  go  (here  whenever   he  p'calld.     That 
about  ih"  time  when  this  examinant  paid  the  inoncv  alore.aid  to  F.rbes 
this   examinant   being   in   office,   a   man  i-      -.imentals  came  in,  which 
alarmed  this  examinant;  that  he  a/ked  him  whether  he  wanted  this  ex- 
aminant; he   aflced   examinant   whether   he  was  the   Mayor,  to  which 
examinant  replied  he  was,  and  aflced  him  what  he  wanted;  he  obfcrved 
to  this  examinant.  that  examinant  did  not  know  him,  for  that  he  had 
never  feen  him  before;  examinant  (aid  he  did  not  know  him;  he  told 
examinant  he  was  one  of  General  Wajhington's  Guards,  and  meant  to 
ferve   the  king;  examinant   told  him   he  had  nothing  to  do  with  inlilling 
men  for  the  king;  he  fuid  he  had  inlilled  fome  that  morning  himfelf,  and 
was  about  to  pull  a  paper  out  of  his  pocket,  in  order  to  Ihow  examinant 
their   names ;  that   examinant  told  him  he  did  not  want   to  know  their 

names 


(  77  ) 


names,  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  ihcm,  and  advifcd  him  to  return  to 
his  quarters,  for  that  if  he  was  difcovcrcd  he  would  be  brought  to  the 
gallows  ;  on  which  he  went  away,  and  examinar.t  has  neither  feen  nor 
heard  of  him  fince.  That  another  man,  a  little  before  the  time  lad- 
mentioned,  who  faid  he  came  from  the  country,  and  knew  examinam's 
father  and  brother,  came  to  this  cxaminant  to  fee  if  he  could  not  get  on 
board  the  (liip ;  cxaminant  afked  him  why  he  left  his  home ;  he  faid  he 
had  been  fo  perfecuted  he  could  not  Hay ;  cxaminant  advifed  him  to 
return  and  keep  liimfclf  quiet,  and  that  cxaminant  imagined  nobody 
would  hurt  him  ;  that  he  replied  he  muft  and  would  get  on  board  fome 
how  or  other,  for  that  he  did  not  dare  to  go  back ;  cxaminant  then  aikcd 
his  name,  which  he  told  him  was  Forbes !  cxaminant  told  him  then  that 
he  did  not  iiiiow  of  a  likelier  person  to  fcrve  him  than  a  namefake  of  his 
that  was  in  town ,  he  a(ked  cxaminant  if  he  meant  Gilbert  Forks,  to 
whi:'i  )..  replied  yes  ;  he  faid  he  knew  him,  and  ^vent  in  quell  of  him; 
and  that  cxaminant  has  never  feen  him  fince.  That  feveral  other  perfons, 
unknown  to  this  cxaminant,  have  at  different  times  called  on  this  cxamin- 
ant to  inquire  how  they  might  get  on  board  the  (hip,  and  that  cxaminant 
always  advifed  them  to  return  home  ;  and  fince  examinant's  interview 
aforefaid  with  the  Governour,  he  told  fuch  as  called  upon  him  for  the 
purpofc  aforefaid  that  there  was  no  room  for  them  on  board ;  that  many 
had  been  turned  away,  and  that  they  had  better  go  home.  That  this 
cxaminant  has  no  further  knowledge  than  what  he  has  as  aforefaid  de- 
clared relative  to  any  pcrfons  being  engaged  in  the  bufincfs  of  inlifting 
men  for  the  King's  fervice,  or  in  keeping  up  a  communication  between 
the  city  and  the  Governour's  (hip,  or  men-of-war  at  the  Narrows. 
That  this  cxaminant  does  not  know  otherwife  than  by  fight,  and  has 
never  fpoken  or  written  a  line  to  Peter  McLenn,  a  ITioemakcr  in  the 
town,  on  any  fubjeft  whatever, 

D.  Matthews. 

Neui-Tork,  June  23,  1776. Examined  by 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  ]\\, 

GoUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 

IVilliiim  Forbes,  of  Gojhen  Precinct,  in  Orange  County,  Tanner  and 
Cuirier,  being  examined,  faith:  That  he  knows  Gilbert  Forbes,  of  the 

city 


(  78   ) 

city  of  New  York,  gunfmiih ;  that  the  firft  time  he  faw  him  was  in  thi  s 
city,  between  the  Brick  Meeting  .mJ  the  Jail  j  that  he  heard  fomebody 
call  him  Mr  Forks ;  this  cxaminant  accollcd  him  and  told  him  that 
his  name  was  Forbes  alfo;  that  thereupon  thfy  went  mxo  IlouUing's 
tavern  and  drank  together;  that  he  has  been  at  the  houfe  of  the  faid 
Gilbert  Forbes,  on  an  invitation  from  him.  That  he  knows  a  Sergeant 
in  General  Wajhington's  Guards,  but  cannot  recollea  his  name  ;  that  he 
became  acquainted  with  him  at  Corby's,  (an  inn-keeper,)  near  General 
Walhington's ;  that  this  examinant  went  to  Corby's  in  company  with  one 
James   Mnfon,  of  Ringwood,  who  was  at  work   in   Corby's  garden ;  that 

the  Sergeant  was  a  middle- n7x;d,  frefh  complexioncd  man an  Eng- 

lilkman;    that    examinant    became    acquainted    with    James    Ma/on   at 
Dutchejs  County  ;  afterwards  I'aw  him  at  Gofoen,  and  from  thence  came 
in  company  with  him  to  this  town;  that  he  told  Majon  he  had  bcc     on 
board  the  man-of-war  lall  winter,  while  Hie  lay  in  the  Eajl  River;  that 
he   never  was  on  board   the  Dutckefs-nf-Gordnn;  that  he  never  laid  he 
was  on  board   the  Suvage  when  flic   fired   on  Staten-IJIiinJ.     That  he 
had  heard,  and,  among  others,  from  the  faid   MaJon,  that  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  were  offered  by  Governour  Tryon  to  each  man  who  would 
go  in  the  King's  fervice,  and  one  hundred  to  the  wife,  and  fifty  to  each 
child.     That  examinant  borrowed  twenty  odd  fliillings  of  MaJon,  and 
promifed  to  repay  him  when  examinant  got  money  from  on  board  the 
man-of-war,   where   he  had    two  brotlicrs-in-Iaw,   who  had  promifed  to 
fend   him   money  to   pay  his   debts.     That   he  never  engaged  with  Go- 
vernour Tryon,  or  with  any  other  perfon  whatever  to  undertake  the  bufi- 
nefs  of  inlifting  foldicrs  for  the  King,   nor  of  enticing  the  Continental 
foldiers  tokavc  that  fervice.     That  he  and  Ma/on  came  to  town  by  way 
of  Elizabethtoten,  and  that  at  iVarmik,   MaJon  perfuaded  one  IVil/iam 
Benjamin  to  go  along  with   them.     That   he  knows  Peter  MeLean,  a 
fhoemakcr,  near  the  Exchange  ;  that  examinant  applied  to  him  to  put 
him  on  board  the  man-of-war;  that  McLean  anfwered  he  could  not  do 
it  at  all,  the  fentries  were  fo  ftrid ;  that  examinant  then  faid  to  McLean 
that  then  he  would  inlilt  in  the  Continental  fervice,  which  he  has  fmce 
done,   in  Captain    Beekman's   Company,   of  Lajher  s   Battalion.     That 
examinant,   Majon,  and    Benjamin  lodged,   the  firll  night  they  came  to 
town,  at  Moulding' s;  that  while  they  were  there  Corby  was  introduced 

to 


(  79  ) 


to   Benjamin  and   Ma/on   by  Gil'jert    Forbes;  Coriy  took   them  to  his 
houfc,   where  this  cxaniinant  has  fccn   them,  in  company  with  Gi/ierl 
Forbes  and    the  aforefaid  Sergeant  of  the  Guards.     This  cxaniinant  faw 
the    laid   Sergeant   and    Gilbert   Forbes   adminiftcr  oaths  of  fecrccy   to 
Mafon  and  two  or  three  foldiers ;  that  Corby  was  prcfent  when  the  faid 
foldiers  were  fworn  as  aforefaid.     That  after  McLean  had,   as  aforefaid, 
told  this  cxaniinant  that  he  knew  not  how  to  get  on  board  the  man-of- 
war,  McLean  recommended  him  to  David  Matthews,  Efq.,  as  a  proper 
pcrfon  to  direct  him  how  to  get  on  board  the  man-of-war ;  that  cxaniin- 
ant accordingly  went  to  Mr.  Matthews  and  told  him  that  McLean  had 
directed  examinant  to  him  as  a  proper  perfon  to  tell  him  how  he  (liould 
get  on  board  the  man  of  war,  and  that  there  was  a  lad  (meaning  Ma/on) 
who  had  come  down  from  Ringtaood,  and  wanted  to  go  along  j  that  Mr. 
Matthews   told    him  it  was  too  dangerous   for  him  to  fay  anything  about 
it,  but  that  he  would  direft  him  to  one  that  could  get  him  on  board,  and 
fcnt  this  examinant  for  that  purpofc  to  Gilbert  Forbes,-  that  this  cxaniin- 
ant accordingly  applied  to  the  faid  Gilbert  Forbes,  and  that  Forbes  faid 
he  could  not  do  anything  in  it  till  he  had  fccn  Corby  ;  that  (hortly  after 
the   faid  Gilbert  Forbes  told  this  examinant  that  he  had  feen  Corby,  and 
that   Corby  faid   he  would  get  examinant   on  board   in  a  few  days  j  that 
examinant  afterwards  faw   Corby,  and   that  he  made  the  like  prom'ife  to 
examinant,  but   Corby  afterwards   told   him   he   could  not ;  and  that  he 
had    been   able  to  fend  only  one  on  board,  by  a  mulatto  fellow.     That 
this  examinant  knows  John  Cl.irke ;  and  that  he  told  this  examinant  that 
he   had  fifty  or   fixty  men   to  go  in  the  King's   fervice,  and  that  he  had 
prevailed  upon  his  brother.  Anthony  Clarke,  to  confent  to  go  with  them  ; 
that  John   Clarke  was   to  he  a  Captain,  and   that  one  Seely,  of  Chefler, 
ill  Orange  County  was  alfo  to  be  one  of  the  officers. 

William  Forbes. 
Examined  the  23d  day  of  June,  1776,  before  l<s: 

John  Jav, 

GOUVERNEUR    MoRRIS. 

City  of  N  R w- York,  ss  : 

James  Savage,  being  examined,  faith,  That  he  hath  not,  during  the 
prefcnt  troubles,  inlillcd  or  engaged  any  men  in  the  fervice  of  the  King 


(  8o  ) 


V 


or  kept  up  or  held  any  corrcfpondence  with  any  perfons  on  board  the 
Dulchefs-of-Gordott,  or  the  (hips  or  veflcis  of  wpr  at  the  Kurrotvs. 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GoUVEKNEUR  MoRRIS. 

New-York',  June  23,  1776. 

John  Clurke,  of  Blooming  Grove,  in  Orr.nge  County,  Painter  and 
Glazier,  faith.  That  he  never  hath  inlifted  any  men  for  the  King,  nor 
engaged  any ;  nor  hath  he  ever  faid  fo.  That  he  hath  feen  Gilbert 
Forbes  at  his  (liop ;  went  there  with  William  Forbes  to  fee  if  faid  Gil- 
bert would  fubfcribc  for  a  perfpeitive  view  of  Oiiebcck ;  that  he  did  not 
tcil  William  Forbes  tha'  he  was  concerned  in  inlilling  men,  nor  that  he 
was  employed  by  Govcrnour  Tryon ;  that  lie  did  not  tell  faid  William 
Forbes,  or  any  other  pcrfon,  that  he  had  inlifted  any  men,  that  he  did 
not  defire  Gilbert  Forbes  10  get  him  a  palTage  on  board  the  Governour's 
fliip,  and  that  he  never  hath  been  on  board  the  Goifcrnour's  fliip,  nor 
attempted  to  go  there. 

John  Clarke. 

Examination  tak-in  the  23d  June,  1776,  before  us: 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 

John  Kearl,  of  the  city  of  M-fff-J^cr^,  Shoemaker,  being  fworn,  faith. 
That  he  has  for  fome  time  paft  worked  as  a  journeyman  with  Piter 
McLean,  near  the  Exchange ;  that  the  faid  McLean  has  worked,  and 
both  made  and  n  ended  flioes  for  people  on  board  the  Ajia  fince 
ihc  has  been  down  at  the  Narrows,  as  the  faid  McLean  informed  this  depo- 
nent; but  this  deponent  knows  not  in  what  manner  the  faid  Ihoes  wcie 
conveyed  on  board,  or  by  whom.  That  this  deponent  has  feen  a  coun- 
tryman of  the  name  of  Forbes,  frequently  at  McLean's,  alfo  one  Hous- 
ing, an  Inn-keeper  near  the  Barracks,  and  Edward  Nicolls,  confedlioner ; 
and  further  faith  not.  John  Kearl. 

Examined  and  fworn  23d  June,  1776,  by  and  before 

Phimp  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR  MoRRIS. 

City 


(  8i   ) 


City  oANew-V'ork,  ss: 

Abraham  Ackerman,  commonly  called  Abrahnm  Jones,  of  Clarkef- 
touin.  Orange  County,  being  fworn,  liith,  That  about  a  fortnight  or 
three  weeb  ago  this  deponent  came  to  this  city  in  order  to  get  a  birth 
on  board  fomc  vefTel ;  that  he  lodged  at  the  houfe  of  Peter  McLean,  a 
niocmaker,  near  the  Exchange;  that  he  has  feen  one  Mr.  EJteard 
Nicolls  and  one  Pit.r  Lrnge,  a  onfeaioncr,  often  at  McLean's,  and 
heard  them  talk  very  much  like  Tories ;  that  he  has  often  fecn  a  man 
there  whofc  name  he  has  fmce  heard  to  be  Fories,  a  countryman ;  that 
3IcLean  ufcd  to  go  fifliing  often ;  that  this  deponent  believes  that  Mc- 
Lean h  now  at  Bu//'i  Ferry  —his  wife  has  gone  there  (as  he  fays,) 
once  or  twice  a  week  ever  fince  McLean  left  this  city,  which  was  at  the 
lime  fome  Tories  were  carried  about  on  rails;  and  further  faith  not. 

Abraham  Ackerman. 
Sworn  and  examined  the  23d  June,  1776,  before  us: 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 

John  Craig,  late  a  foldier  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment,  being  duly 
fworn  upon  the  Holy  Evangclifts  of  A/mighty  God,  depofcth  and  faith. 
That  being  now  a  prifoner  in  the  common  jail  of  the  Cily  and  County 
of  Neza-Tori,  lie  has  frequently  obfcrved  that  Captain  Savage,  a  prifoner 
now  in  the  faid  jail,  haih  received  fundry  letters  from  perfons  on  board 
the  King's  (hip  and  the  Dutchefs-of-Gordon,  as  he  believes,  by  means  of 
one  Janes,  a  tall  man,  with  lightilli  coloured  clothes,  marked  with  the 
fmall-pox,  light  hair,  about  forty  years  of  age;  and  another  of  the  name 
of  Matthews,  a  perfon  about  five  feet  fix  inches  high,  well  fet  and  a 
dark  complexion ;  that  the  lall  of  the  two  on  Wednefday  laft  was  in  the 
jail,  and  this  deponent  heard  Captain  Savage  fay,  'Matthews,  ftay  a  fev.' 
minutes  and  I  will  have  them  all  ready ;  meaning  certain  letters  which 
he  was  then  writing,  to  go  on  board  the  faid  (liips.  And  this  deponent 
further  faith,  that  the  faid  Captain  Savage,  hain  inveigled  a  number  of 
the  Continental  troops  to  inlill  in  his  Majefty's  fervice,  among  whom  are 
one  Irwin,  belonging  to  Captain  llardcnbergh' s  Company,  and  late  of 
the   Twenty-Sixth   Regiment  of  Foot;    Peter  McCloJkey.oi  the  fame 

company 


(  82   ) 


company,  a  fifer,  and  late  of  the  fame  regiment;  Richard  Smith,  of  the 
fame  company,  late  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Foot;  and  J  .ma  John- 
fon,  a   fifer  of  the  General's  Guards.     And  this  deponent  fur.her  faith, 
that  Qilbm  Forbes,  who  is.  as  he  is  informed,  committed  by  order  of  a 
Committee  of  the  Congrefs.   is  confined   in   the  room  oppof.te  to  him  • 
that  a  fentry  was  placed  on  the  outfide  of  the  door  of  the  room  in  which 
faid  F,rbn  is  confin.'d  ;    that  the  outer  and  inner  doors  were  fhut ;  and 
about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  Peter  Chiles,  a,  the  requeft  of  faid  Forbes,  and 
of  the  Tones,  in  the  jail,  opened  the  inner  door,  that  faij  Fwbes  might 
as  he  (a.d   have  air ;  that  C^//«  opened  the  inner  door  by  pufl,ing  the 
bolts  back  with  the  ramming-rod  of  the  fentry,  who  was  placed  at  the 
door.     That  after  the  door  was  opened,  the  faid  Forbes,  by  means  of  a 
hole  in  the  outer  door,  converfcd   freely  with  the  Tories  in  the  palTage; 
that  Harris  the  midihipman  taken  by  the  Riflunen  from  on  board  the 
Savage,  and  Mr.  Medealf.  fpoke  to  him  ;  and  the  faid  Forbes  gave  two 
half  pints  of  liquor  to  the  woman  to  hng  Tory  fongs.     .And  further  this 
deponent  faith,  that  Mr.  Harris  hath  written  fundry  letters,  as  well  as 
the  faid  Captam  Savag,,  to  go  on  board  the  Ihid  fliips ;  and  that  Mr.  Har 
ns  and   Mr.    Elder  are,   as  this  deponent  believes,  concerned  with  the 
fa.d    Captain   Savage  in  inlilling  the   men;    and  further  this  deponent 
faith  not. 


Sworn  the  23d  o(  June,  1776,  before  us: 


John  Craig. 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay. 

GOUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 


C//y  «/'New-York,  w; 

John  Andrews,  a  Corporal  of  Captain  Dewit's  Minute  Company  at 
Rhinebeck,  and  now  a  priforer  in  the  fime  room  with  the  above-named 
John  Craig,  being  duly  fworn,  depofeth  and  faith,  That  the  fcveral 
matters  and  facts  in  the  above  depofition  contained  arc,  to  the  bell  of 
his  knowledge  and  belief,  true,  the  faid  John  Andrew,  from  being  con- 
fined in  the  fame  room  with    the   faid  John  Craig,  being  in  the  like 

manner 


(  83  ) 

manner  with  the  faid  Jcbn  Crmg  privy  to  the  fevcral  matters  and  things 
contained  in  the  faid  affidavit. 


Sworn  the  23d  of  June,  1776,  before  us: 


hit 
"John  X    Andrew. 
mark. 


PHir.ip  Livingston, 
John  J,\v, 

GOUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 


Monday,  ten  o'clock  .\.  M.,  June  24,  1776. 
The  Committee  met  in  the  Council-Chamber  in  the  City-Haij  of  the 
Ciiy  of  New-York,   purfuant  to  (he  agreement  of  Yeftcrday,  the  Court- 
Room  being  occupied  by  prifoners  and  guard. 

Profcnt:  John  J„y,  Efq.,  Chairman,  Mr.  Phi/if,  Livwgjhn,  Mr. 
UolMirt,  Mr.  R>wd^//,  Colonel  Graham,  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Ganjev.ort 

Mr.  Axtell  aiicndcd  in  purfuancc  of  the  fummons  from  this  Com- 
mittee, and  relurnable  this  day. 

The  Chairman  informed  Mr.  Axtell  oi  the  Refoluiions  of  the  Con- 
grefs  relative  to  perfons  of  equivocal  character,  and  told  him  the  Com- 
mittee hoped  he  would  give  ihcm  c\idence  of  his  being  a  friend  to  the 
American  caufe 

Mr.  Axttll  appealed  to  the  uniform  tenour  of  his  conduft,  which  he 
faid,  had  never  been  unfriendly  to  this  country. 

The  Chairman  then  alked  him  whether  he  approved  of  the  American 
oppofition.  He  replied  that  he  did  not  of  the  whole,  and  fignified  his 
difapprobation  of  the  Canada  expedition. 

The  Chairman  aflced  him  whether  he  thought  the  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain  had  a  right  to  bind  thefc  Colonies  in  all  cafes  whatfoever. 
To*  which  he  replied  that,  in  his  opinion,  they  had  not. 

The  Chairman  then  aflced  him  whether  refinance  by  arms  to  the  hof- 
tile  attempts  of  the  Britijk  fleets  and  armies,  to  execute  and  enforce 
thofe  claims  to  this  quellion,  was  juftifiable. 

Mr.  ^.v/,-// declined  to  give  an  anfwer,  declaring  that  he  did  not  mean 
to  take  an  adive  part  on  either  fide  —  that  the  bulk  of  his  fortune  was 
in  Britain  and  the  Weft-Indies. 

Mr.  Axtell  was  then  defired  to  withdraw. 

And 


(  84  ) 


And  the  Committee  went  into  a  confulcration  of  Mr.  Axull's    cafe 
m  the  courfc  of  which  the  following  quellions  were  put  by  the  Chairman. 
Whether  Mr.    Axull  is  fuch  a   friend  to  the  country  a,  i,  defcribed  in 
.  the  (aid  relolutions?  Carried  unanimoiifly  in  the  negative. 

2d.  Whether  it  is  necclTary  to  remove  Mr.  .'Vxtell  from  his  prcfent 
place  of  refidencc'  On  which  Mr.  V»/.rr/j  moved  that  the  quellion  be 
deterred  for  conf.deration.      Which  was  carried  in  the  negative. 

The  queftion  being  then  put.  Whether  he  Ihall  be  removed  from  his 
prefent  place  of  refidence'  Agreed  unanimouflv  in  the  negative. 

Thequcllion  was  then  put.  uhether  any  other  fecuritv  ft.ould  be 
demanded  of  Mr.  .lA-/.//than  his  parole .»  Agreed  unanimoufly  that  his 
parole  IS  fufficient.  and  that  no  other  fecurity  be  required. 

Mr.  Axlctl  was  then  called  in.  and  defired  to  give  his  parole  that  he 
would  not,  dircftly  or  indiredly.  oppofe  or  contravene  the  meallires  of 
the  Continental  Congrefs  or  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony.  Mr.  Axttll 
objected  that  the  parole  is  fo  broad  that  it  may  admit  of  difagreeable 
conftructionsof  fuch  part  of  his  condurt  as  he  mav  think  the  moll  inno- 
cent, and  ofTere.!  to  give  his  parole  not  to  tal;e  an  ailive  part  againll  the 
American  caufe. 

A  copy  of  the  parole  was  then  given  unto  him,  and  he  was  defired  to 
confider  the  fame,  and  attend  this  Committee  again  on  Thurfday  next. 

John  Willelt,  Efq.,  attending  on  a  fummons  returnable  here  this  day, 
was  called  in ;  and  the  refolutions  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  as  to 
perfons  of  equivocal  character,  read  to  him  by  the  Chairman. 

The  faid  Mn  Wiltetl,  was  then  aflced  by  the  Chairman  whether  he 
had  any  evidence  to  give,  or  could  fliow  caufe  why  he  fliould  be  confidcrcd 
as  a  friend  to  America,  &c.  To  which  he  replied  that  he  had  no  other 
reafon  but  his  opinion  that  the  Parliament  have  no  right  to  lay  internal 
taxes  on  America. 

Said  John  Wilictt  was  then  aflced  if  he  would  fign  the  AITjciation  by 
the  Provincial  Congrefs  made  on  the  20th  inllant.  To  which  he  replied 
that  he  had  no  other  objection  to  it  but  that  he  did  not  choofe  to  take  up 
arms. 

Said  John  Wiltett  was  then  aflced  whether  he  thought  the  caufe  of 
America  jull  or  unjuft.  To  which  he  replied  he  was  not  a  proper  judge 
of  the  matter. 

Said 


(  8s  ) 


Said  JebH  Wilitlt  was  then  aflccd  whether  he  was  for  the  Congrcfs  or 
againft  it.     To  which  he  replied  he  was  not  againft  it. 

Said  John  Wilielt  was  then  afkcd  if  he  was  for  ihe  Congrcfs.  To 
which  he  rephed  he  fhouid  never  diftiirb  them. 

Said  John  IViliett  was  then  aflccd  to  whom  he  wiihed  fuccefs  —  General 
WaJh'mgUH  or  General  Ihwe.  To  which  he  rephed  he  wiflied  thofc 
might  fucceed  who  had  juftice  on  their  fide. 

Said  Jdhn  Wulttt  was  then  aflccd  on  which  fulc  he  thought  juftice  was. 
To  which  he  replied  he  was  no  judge,  but  wifhcd  that  juftice  might  take 
place. 

The  faid  John  Wil/ett  was  then  rcqucftcd  to  withdraw. 

Rtfohed  vnitnimoujly,  That  the  faid  Jobi:  .  i  Ulett  is  not  a  friend  to  the 
cuufc  and  rights  of  Amerha. 

Rejolvid  uK/inimouJly,  That  it  is  not  neccflary  to  remove  the  faid  John 
Wil/ett  from  his  ftated  place  of  rcfidcnce. 

Refolved  un  inimoiijly.  That  the  faid  John  WilUtt  give  bond  to  the 
Prcfidcnt  of  ihc  Congrcfs  of  this  Colony  for  the  time  being,  by  name,  in 
the  fum  of  two  thoufand  pounds,  that  he  will  neither  directly  nor  indi- 
redly  contravene  or  oppofe  the  meafures  of  the  Continental  Congrcfs  or 
of  the  Congrcfs  of  this  Colony. 

The  faid  John  WilUtt  was  then  called  in,  and  did  confent  to  give  fuch 
bond ;  wherefore, 

Ordered,  that  Mr.  ^IcKeJpin  prepare  and  get  the  fame  executed  by 
the  faid  John  IVi/Zett. 

Know  all  men  by  thefe  prefents,  that  I,  John  Wittett,  of  the  Townlhip 
of  Jammea,  in  ^eens  County,  of  the  Colony  of  Netv-Tork,  Efquire, 
am  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  John  Hiiring,  Efq.,  Prcfidcnt  of  the 
Congrcfs  of  the  Colony  of  Nete-Tork,  in  the  (um  of  two  thoufand 
pounds,  lawful  money  of  Nftv-7'crk,  to  be  paid  to  the  (aid  John  Ilaring 
or  to  his  certain  attorney,  executors,  adniiniftrators  and  afligns;  for  which 
payment  well  and  truly  to  be  made  and  done,  I  bind  myfelf,  my  heirSt 
executors  and  adminiftrators,  firmly  by  ihefe  prefents. 

Scaled  with  my  fcal,  and  dated  this  twenty-fourth  day  of  June,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  th;,iiiand,  fevcn  hundred  and  feventy-fix. 

The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  fuch,  that  if  the  above-bound 
John  Willett   fliall    neither  direilly  nor   indiredly  oppofe  or  contravene 

the 


(  86  ) 


the  meafuresof  the  Continental  Co-grcfs  or  the  Congrcfs  of  this  Colony 
.hen  the  abuve  obligation  to  be  void;  othcrwill  to  remain  m  full  force 
and  virtue. 


Scaled  and  delivered  in  the  prefence  of  us  : 


John  Willett. 

Robert  Benson, 
John  McKesson. 

C.^nJn.:Ud  H.r„U,on,  attending  on  the  f.mmons,  returnable 
ner-;  ihis  di»v,  was  called  in. 

The  Chairman  informed  Captain  Jl.m./lon  of  the  reafons  of  his  bein^ 
fo  (ummoned.  and  red  to  him  the  refolutions  of  Congrefs  rclati,e  to  per^ 
fons  of  equivocal  charafler,  and  .old  him  he  was  confidered  as  of  that 
number;  and  that  the  Committee  hoped  he  woul  1  give  them  fatisfaftory 
evdcnce  of  his  being  a  friend  to  jimcrka. 

Captain  Ihmi/tm  d,creupon  obferved  that  he  loved  ^mmca:  that  he 
fought  and  bled  and  been  in  irons  for  her;  that  he  wilhes  her  free  and 
happy;  and  that  no  promifes  or  offers  of  reward  or  prefern.en,  could 
temi  -..n  ,0  draw  his  Iword  ..gainlf  her;  that  he  has  refu^xl  fuch  offers, 
and  that  he  holds  no  office  or  commiHion  whatever  under  the  King  of 
Great  Br„„in;  that  he  has  a  brother  and  other  near  relations  now  ferv- 
.ng  .n  the  Kmg's  armies,  and  that  he  could  not  think  of  unn>eathing  his 
fword  againft  them  or  the  King. 

Captain  Hamlun,  on  being  .-Iked  '.y  the  chair.n.n,  whether,  in  his 
op.nton.  the  Parliament  of  ilrc,  BrUair,  have  a  right  to  bind  thcfe 
Colon.es  ,n  all  cafes  whatfoever;  faid  he  was  not  (ulKciently  acquainted 
wtth  fubjeds  of  that  kind  ,o  anfwer  the  quertion  ;  but  that  if  he  had  twenty 
hear:,,  he  would  fooner  lofe  :•..  blood  in  the  .  all  than  lofe  his  liberty 

The  chairman  then  afked  i^im  whethc  he  would  give  his  parole  of 
honour  neither  direaiy  nor  indircdlly  to  oppofe  or  contravce  the  mea- 
K'reso,  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony;  to 
which  he  anfwered  that  he  would  very  readily,  lor  that  he  never  would 
injure  America  in  word,  though',  or  devd. 

Captain  Hamilur.  w„s  then  defired  to  withdraw,  and  the  committee 
proceeded  to  take  his  cafe  into  conlideration.  The  refult  of  which  «  „ 
that  they  ' 

Rc/blved 


(  87  ) 


Rejolved,  That  Captain  Hamilton  was  not  fuch  a  friend  to  the  Ameri- 
can caufc  as  is  defcribed  in  tlie  (aid  rofolutions  of  the  Congrcfs ;  that  it 
was  unncceflary  that  he  ftiould  be  removed  from  the  place  of  his  prefcnt 
refidcnce;  that  confidence  might  be  repofcd  in  him  as  a  man  of  honour; 
and  therefore  that  his  parole  was  fufticicnt  feciirity  for  his  not  oppofing  or 
contravening  the  meafures  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  the  Congrefs  of 
this  Colony, 

Captain  Hamilton  was  then  called  in,  and  on  his  agreeing  to  give 
fuch  parole,  it  was  reduced  to  writing,  and,  on  his  figning  it,  was 
difcharged. 


New- York,  June  24,  1776. 
I,  Archibald  Ihmillon,  Efq.,  do  declare    upon    my  honour  that  I  will 
not,  dircitly  or  indiredly,  oppofe  or  contravene  the  meafures  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congrefs  or  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony. 

Arch.   Hamilton. 

John  Yates,  of  the  Wallkilt  Precind^,  in  Vlfter  County,  labourer,  being 
fworn,  faith :  That  early  in  this  laft    fpring  Abfalom  Bull,  one  of  depo- 
nent's neighbours,  came  to  him  and  told  him  he  was  but  a  poor  man,  and 
that  if  he  would  go  with   the  faid    Bull,  he  would   make  a  gentleman  of 
this  deponent.     That  this  deponent  aftcd  him  how.     He  replica  that  if 
this  deponent  would  go  and  fcrve  the  King  for  three  years,  or  to  the  end 
of  the  American  war  if  that  niould  fooner   happen,  this  deponent  ftiould 
have  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  frontiers.     That  deponent  faid  it 
was  very  uncertain,  for  he  did  not  fee  how  he  was  to  get  a  warranty  deed 
for  it;  but  if  he  could  get  a  warranty  deed  for  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
he  did  not  knou   but  he  might  engage.     On  this  they  parted.     That  for 
many  days  repeatedly  after   that,  the   faid  Ahfalom  Bull,  together   with 
Ijaac  Waugh  and  Richard  Bull,  came  to  this  deponent  and  prefTed  him 
to  cuter  into  the   King's  fervice,  but  the  deponent   put  them  off.     That 
they  afterwards  went,  as  they  informed  this  deponent,  on  board  the  man- 
of-war,  and  when  they  returned,  brought  him  a  letter  from  Governour 
Tryon,  informing  this  deponent  that  if  he  would  come  on  board  his  ftiip 
and  pilot  the  men-of-war  up  the  North  River,  he  would  give  this  depo- 
nent a  dollar  a  day  and   five  pounds  a  fool  for  every  foot   that  the  vefTel 
N  he 


(  88   ) 

he  piloted  drew  more  than  twenty  feet,  and  (lioiild  have  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  at  the  determination  of  the  Amtrkm  war ;  and  that  Inhind, 
Scotland  and  Wales  had  all  united  with  £»^/rt/rrt'  to  fubdue  America. 
That  this  deponent  had,  till  within  a  few  years  lafl  part,  been  a  feafaring 
man,  and  was  well  acquainted  «ith  the  navigation  of  the  North  River, 
which  was  well  known  to  his  faid  neighbours,  and,  as  this  deponent  be- 
lieves, was  by  them  made  I;nown  to  Governour  Trpn  That  this 
deponent  afterwards  received  two  other  letters  of  the  like  import,  from 
Governour  Tryon.  That  about  fix  weeks  ago  this  deponent,  together 
wl:h  the  faid  ALjahm  Bull,  Richard  Bull,  and  lfa,ic  Waugh,  travelled 
from  their  hemes  down  through  Wcjtchelicr  County  to  White-Stone 
Ferry,  where  they  crofled  over  to  Long-IJland,  and  thence  to  Hetnpflead, 
and  went  to  the  houle  of  one  Simon/on,  a  tavern-keeper,  in  that  town ; 
that  they  went  from  thence  to  the  houfe  of  Captain  llulet,  where  ihey  all 
lodged  ;  that  the  next  morning  this  deponent's  companions  went  ofFfrom 
Eockauiay  in  an  oyller-boat  that  plied  between  that  coaft  and  the  fliips, 
and  fupplied  them  with  provifions,  as  he  was  informed  and  believed  ; 
that  they  dcfircd  this  deponent  to  go  with  them,  but  this  deponent  being 
fick,  and  not  much  inclined  to  go  on  board,  faid  he  would  wait  at 
Captain  Hulet's  till  their  return  ;  that  after  three  days  they  all  returned 
to  this  deponent  at  Captain  Ihlet'i,  aforefaid,  and  that  Colonel  Fanning, 
the  Governour's  fecrctary,  came  with  them ;  that  the  faid  Colonel  Fan- 
ning was  well  known  to  this  deponent,  he  having  often  fcen  him,  and  this 
deponent  having  been  a  mariner  in  Captain  Ilunter'i  (hip,  which 
brought  the  Colonel  from  England;  that  at  prcfent  this  deponent  did  not 
know  Colonel  Fanning,  he  being  difguifed  in  the  drefs  of  a  common 
labouring  man,  but  on  taking  this  deponent  afide  he  made  himfelf  known 
to  him,  u  hereupon  this  deponent  immediately  rccolleaed  his  face  and 
perfon ;  that  he  aflccd  this  deponent  to  go  on  board  with  him  j  this  de- 
ponent anfwercd  that  he  was  too  fick  to  go ;  that  then  the  Colonel  told 
him  that  if  he  couid  not  go  then,  he  mull  come  down  when  the  fleet  ar- 
rived, and  that  they  would  fend  this  deponent  a  letter  to  inform  him  of  it, 
to  which  this  deponent  agreed.  That  Colonel  Fanning  told  him  New- 
rork  was  to  be  the  feat  of  war;  that  fome  of  the  fleet  would  run  into  the 
Sound,  and  land  troops  on   Long- IJI and ;  that  another   divifion  would 

land 


I 


(  89  ) 


land  on  the  fouth  fide  and  hoift  the  King's  Standard ;    and  that  all  the 
men  that  engaged  to  ferve  the  King  ftiould  come  to  iw^.//W  and  join 
them,  and  that  cannon  was  already  provided  in  different  parts  of  Long. 
IJland,  and  that   there   were   then   three  field-pieces  and  a  mortar-piece 
under  the  floor  of  the  barn  of  the    faid   Simonfon.     The   faid   Colonel 
Fanning  aifo  told  this  deponent  that  they  flioujd  want  him  to  pilot  veffels 
of  war  up  the  North  River,  and  that  the   lavage,  Phenix.  and    Sbuldan 
(which,  he  believes,  was   formerly  the   Rhode-IJland  paciict)    were   de- 
figned  for  that  fervice.     That  the  Colonel  defircd  this  deponent  to  bring 
all  the  provifions  he  could  on  board  the  fiiips.  and  that  he  fliould  receive 
the  following  prices  for   them,  viz..  five  pounds  a   barrel   for   fait   pork, 
one  fliilling  per  pound  for  gammons,  eighteen  pence  per  pound  for  butter', 
and  a  good  price  for  fowls,  eggs,   &c.,   and    then  gave  this  deponent  a 
paper  (now  delivered)  with  a  feal   on   it,  and  the  letters   W.  T.  on  the 
back  of  it,  and  told  this  deponent  that  it  would  ferve  him  as  a  pafs  to  go 
by  all  the  men-of-war  and  cruifers  unmoleiled.     That  Colonel  Fanning 
further  told  this   deponent  that   Abfalm   Bull,  aforefaid,  had   inlilled  a 
great  many  men,  and  dcfired  this  deponent  to  do    the  like,  but  this  de- 
ponent  declined  it.     That  this  deponent  knows  John  Clarke,  a  painter ; 
that  he  faw  kirn  in  this  town  about  a  fortnight  ago  ;    that  he  told  this  de^ 
ponent  he  was  going  on  board  the  fhips,  and  requefted  this  deponent  to  go 
with  him,  which  this  deponent  refufed  ;   that  he  advifed  this  deponent  to 
engage  to  fight  for  the  King,  and   faid  the   Americans   would   be   beat. 
That  the  aforefaid  Mfalom  Hull  this  fpring  Ihowed  this  deponent  a  lift 
ofperfonswhomhehad  inlilled    for    the   King's   fervice;    that  the  faid 
Abfalom  told  this  deponent  that  there  were  two  hundred  names  on  it. 
which  this  deponent  really  believes  to  be  true,  but  this  deponent  does  not 
remember  the  names  of  any  of  them,   except  Richard  Bull,  Alexander 
Scadden,  James  Scadden,    Ijaac    Waugh.  John   Clarke,    (the  painter 
atorcluid)   Jetvel  Smith,  and  one  Seely,  of  a  place  in   Orange  County, 
called  Oxford.     That  Ai/alom  Bull  aforefaid  was  to  be  a  Captain,  and 
had  a  coniinillion  for  it  from  Governour  Tryon,  which  he  fliowed  to  this 
deponent,  and  that  it  was  written  on  parchment,  and  a  great  feal  hanging 
to  it,  but  that  this  deponent  did  not  read   it.     The   (aid    Aifalom    Bull 
further  faid,  that  all  the  men  (b  inlifted  for  the  King's  fervice  were  to  join 

the 


(  90  ) 


the  fleet  when  i,  arrived,  and  that  all  who  did  not,  woald   be  treated  as 
deferiers  from  the  King's  fervice. 

his 
John   x    Yates. 


Sworn  the  24,h  June,  1776,  before  us. 


mark. 
John  Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR  MoRRIS. 


To  CaptaiH  .4BEEL,  ofCohnelhK%m^h  Battalion : 

Sm:   Whereas   Simerfon,  of  the  Townlhip  of    IhmpJIead  in 

«*...r.  County  Inn-keeper.  Hands  eharged  with  dangerous  deligns  and 
r  fonable  confpiracies  againrt  the  rights  and  liberties  of  Arnerla,  and 
that  for  the  perpetration  of  fuch  wicked  defigns  and  confpiracies  he  hath 
divers  cannon  and  other  implements  of  war  now  concealed  :  we  therefore 
by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  unto  us  given  by  a  refolve  of  the 
Congrefs  of  this  Colony  of  the  20.h  o^  June  inftant.  do  authorise  and  re- 
quire you  to  caufe  to  be  apprehended  and  fecured  the  faid Simcrjon 

WHh  all  h,s  papers,  and  ,0  makefearch  for  and  take  all  Cannon  and  other 
implements  of  war  wha.foever  in  his  houfe,  barn,  and  outhoufes  ,  and  that 
return  be  made  to  us  of  the  manner  in   which  this  warrant  (liall  be  exe- 
cuted. ,n  order  that  the  fa„,e  may  be  made  known  to  the  faid  Congrefs 
Oiven  under  our  hands  this  24th  day  oijune,  1776. 

In  the  Council-Chamber  of  the  City-Hall  of  the  Ciiyof  ] 
New-York.  June  2;,  1776. 
1  he  Committee  met  purfuant  to  adjournment. 
Prefent-7.*,  Jay,  Efq.,    Chairman;  Mr.   Philip   LivingHon,   Mr. 
Hobart,  Colonel  Graham,  Mr.  Tredwell,  Mr.  Morris,  and  Mr.  Game 
voort.  ■' 

Mr.  Hoiart  and  Colonel  Graham  reported  a  draft  of  a  Warrant  to  be 
iflued  agamft  fuch  perfons  of  equivocal  charafler  as  may  ncgled  or  refufe 
to  appear  on  fummons;  which  being  read,  amended,  and  agreed  to,  is  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

To 

Whereas  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of  NewTcrk,  on  the  5,1,  day  of 
7«»^inllant,   did  pafs  certain  refolutions,   reciting,  among  other  things. 

that 


'] 


(91   ) 


that  '  whereas  there  are  in  this  Colony  divers  perfons  who,  by  reafon  of 
their  holding  offices  from  the  King  of  Great  Bntam—fxom  their  having 
negleaed  or  rcfufcd  to  aflbciate  with  their  fellow-citizens  for  the  defence 
of  their  common  rights— from  their  having  never  manifelled.  by  their 
condua,  a  zeal  for,  and  an  attachment  to  the  American  caiife-or  from  their 
having  maintained  an  equivocal  neutrality,  have  been  confidered  by  their 
countrymen  in  a  fufpicious  light-wherel,y  it  hath  become  necefTary,  as 
well  for  the  fafetyas  for  the  fatisfaflion  of  the  people,  (who,  in  times  fo 
dangerous  and  critical,  are  naturally  led  to  confider  thofe  as  their  enemies 
who  withhold  from  them  their  aid  and  influence.)  that  fundry  perfons  in 

the  faid  refolution  named,  of  which  number j,  one 

and  alfo  all  fuch  other  perfons  of  the  like  charafter  as  wc,'  a  Committee 
of  the  faid  Congrcfs  for  that  purpofe  by  the  rcfolutions  aforefaid  duly  ap- 
pointed and  authorized,  may  think  proper,  be  fummoned  to  appear  before 
us  at  fuch  time  and  place  as  we  (hould  appoint,  then  and  there  to  fliow 
caufe.  if  any  they  have,  why  they  ihould  be  confidered  as  friends  to  the 
Jmerican  caufe.  and  as  of  the  number  of  thofe  who  arc  ready  to  ri(k  their 
lives  and  fortunes  in  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America  againft 
the  ufurpation,  unjull  claims,  and  cruel  oppreffions  of  the  Britijh  Parlia- 
ment-which  rights  and  liberties,  and  which  unjull  claims,  and  cruel 
oppreflions,  arc  fpccified  and  ftatcd  in  divers  addrcfTcs,  petitions,  and  rc- 
folutions, of  the  prcfcnt  and  late  Continental  CongrclFcs ;'  and  in  default 
of  appearance,  wc,  the  Committee  aforefaid,  on  proof  made  of  the  fcrvice 
ot  the  faid  fummons,  are  authorized  and  diicaed  to  caufe  them  to  be 
arrellcd  and  brought  before  us  by  warrant  under  our  hands,  direaed  to 
any  militia  officer  in  this  Colony,  who  is,  by  the  faid  refolves,  required  to 
execute  the  fame;  and  whereas,  in  purfuancc  of  the  rcfolutions  aforefaid 
of  the  faid  Congrefs,  we,  the  Committee  aforefaid.  did.  on  the  ...  day 

ot  June  inftant,  iffiie  our  fummons  to  the  above  mentioned to 

appear  before  us  at  the  City-Hall  of  the  City  of  New-York,  on 

'^^ ''••>'  "f"  •       at o'clock  in  the 

....  noon  of  the  faid  day  to  (liow  caufe,  if  any  he  had,  why  he  rtiould 
be  confidered  as  a  friend  to  the  common  caufe  ;  and  which  fummons  was 
duly  ferved  on  the  faid «,  ,pp,,„  (,,  ,he  return  of 

the  Mcrenger  of  this  Congrefs,  thereto  duly  appointed 

and  fworn  ;  and  whereas  fiid did  not  appear  in  purfuance 

of 


(    92    ) 


of  thcfummons  aforefaid,  but  hath  made  default ;  We,  therefore  the 
Committee  aforefaid.  in  purfuanee  of  the  trull  repofed  in  us  by  .he  re- 
folves  aforefaid,  do  authorize  and  require  you  forthwith  to  arrcft  and  bring 
before  us.  at  the  City-Hall  of  the  Ci,y  of  Neu,.rork.  the  above-named 

■, for  the  purpofe  aforefaid,  and  to  abide  fuch  order  in 

the  prcm.fes  as  by  us  may  be  made;  and  bring  with  you  then  there  this 
warrant. 
Given  at  Netv-Torii, 

Mr.  Hoiar,  and  Colonel  Grah.r,  reported  a  draft  of  a  fummons  to 
pcrlons  m.mical  to  the  eaufe  and  rights  of  America;  whieh  being  read 
was  agreed  to,  and  is  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

Whereas,  by  certain  Relblutions  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of  New- 
-  »ri,of  the  5.h  day  o(  June  inftant,  we.  a  Committee  of  the  faid  Con- 
grefs. were  authorized  and  required  to  fummon  certain  perfons.  whofe 
eondua  had  been  reprefented  to  the  faid  Congrefs  as  inimical  to  the  caufe 
and  rights  o(  Jmeria,,  of  which  number  you  are  one.  to  appear  before  us 
at  fuch  t.me  and  place  as  we  might  think  proper,  then  and  there  to  aniwer 
to  lueh  matters  and  things  as  flull  be  alleged  againll  them,  and  Ihow  caufe 
(If  any  they  have)  why  they  (hould  be  confidered  as  friends  to  the  Jme- 
nean  caufe:  We  do.  therefore,  in  purfuanee  of  the  truft  repofed  in  us  by 
the  fa>d  refoluuons,  fummon  you  to  appear  before  us  for  the  purpofes 
aforefaid,  at  the  City-Hall  ofthe  City  of  New-York,  on .the 

''■■■■■,    ^^  ° •  ^'^ o'clock  in  the  forenoon 

ot  the  fame  day. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  prepare  all  the  Summonfes  direfted  to  be 
iffUed  to  the  perfons  named  in  the  faid  rcfolutions  of  Congrefs  by  to- 
morrow  morning. 

Ordered,  aljo.  That  a  number  of  V'arrants  aforefaid  be  prepared 
The  Committee  then  adjourned  for  an  hour  to  meet  again  at  Scott's 
Tavern,  in  Walt  Street. 

George  Bremrton,  of  the  City  o(  Nezv-nrk.  Efquire.  being  examined 
faith:  That  he  never  was  engaged  in  any  defign  of  inliiling  men  to  ferve 
the  King  againft  the  ^«rm.,m;  nor  was  he  oiherwife  acquainted  with 
the  exillence  of  any  fuch  def.gn.  except  in  the  following  manner-  Cap- 
tain lienjon,  about  three  weeks  ago.  told  this  examinant  he  had  heard 
that  GMert  Forbes  was  employed  in  inlifting  men  for  ihe  King's  fervice. 

and 


(93  ) 


and  aflted  this  cxaminam  whether  he   knew  anything  of  it.     That  ex- 
aminant  told  him  he  knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  and  that  V  Forks  had 
engaged  in  that  i.ufineft  he  was  a  fool.     That  this  cxaminant  afterward, 
a/ked  horba  about  it.  and  told  him  if  he  inlilkd  any  men  in  thatwav  he 
did  wrong.     That  fW«  replied,  that  there  was  nothing  in  it.  and'that 
he  was  not  engaged  in  any  ftich  bufinefs.     That  this  deponent,  inftead  of 
aidmg  the  Minifterial  armies,  had  advifed  and  perfuaded  men  to  inlift  in 
the  Continental  fervice  j  and  without  being  applied  to  by  the  Committee 
for  that  purpofe  did  difpofe  of  feven  or  eight  firelocks  to  be  employed  in 
the  detbnce  of  the  American  caufe,  and  would  have  remained  in  this  city 
and  alhlled  in  defending  it  had  it  not  been  for  the  late  riotous  proceedings 
againll  pcrfons  fufpefted  of  being  Tories,  under  which  fufpicion  this  cx- 
aminant had  fallen,  as  he  ^uppofes.  from  his  refufing  to  Hgn  the  Aflbciation 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to  which   he,  as  well   as  many  other  good 
friends  to  the  caufe,  refufed  to  fubfcribc. 

That  this  cxaminant  has  figned  the  rtrll  AlTocialion.  and   has  no  ob- 
jeaion  to  figning  the  lall.  in  common  with  his  fellow  citi/.cns.     That  about 
five  weeks  ago,  David  Matthewi,  Efq.,  alkcd  this  cxaminant  whether  he 
knew  Forhe!.     That  this  deponent  faid  he  knew  molf  of  the   Fcrbcjcs  ■ 
and  aflced  Mr.  Mauiem   why.     He  faid  that  he  had  an  account  againli 
Governour  7>y.«.  and  that  the  Governour  had   fent  monev  by  him  to 
pay  forks.     That  the  cxaminant   then   aflced  Mr.   Matti>e«;s   how  the 
Governour  came  to  owe  him  money.     He  replied  that  he  believed  it  was 
for  nflc.guns  that  he  had  fcnt  him.     On  which  this  cxaminant  obfervcd 
that  It  mull  be  GMcrl  Foria.  the  gunfmith  ;    and   that  this  cxaminant 
faid  he  did  not  take  him  for  fuch  a  fellow.     Mr.  Mallhtvs  Hud   that  he 
was  alfo  much  furprifed.     Examinant  faid  he  would    fpcak   to   Forbes 
That  cxaminant  afterwards  faw  Forbes,  and  aflced  him   whether  he  had 
an  account  againll  Governor  Tryon ,■   to  which  he  anfwered  no.     Th-t 
examinam  aflced  him  if  he  had    not   il-nt   things  to  the   Governour;    to 
which  he  faid  no.     That  examinant  then  faid   he   thought   he  had  heard 
the  Mayor  fay  he  had  received  money  for  him  from  Governour  7'ryon 
Forbes  then  confciTed  that  the  Governour  owed  him  money.     Examinant 
then  lelt  him  witho.it  further  quellions.     That  fon;c  time  afterwards  cx- 
aminant received  a  kw   lines    from    Mr.    Mayor,    with    fome   money 
informing  this  examinant  that  he  was  going  out  of  town,  and  recjuelling 

him 


{  94  ) 


him  to  deliver  it  to  Forbes,  which  exatninant  did.  That  this  examinant 
does  not  remember  that  the  Mayor  defired  iiim  to  difTuadc  Forbes  from 
the  profecution  of  any  dcfigns  againft  America  ;  but  that  this  examinant 
did,  as  aforcfaid,  of  his  own  accord,  call  upon  I'orbes,  and  fo  difluadc 
him  as  above  related. 

This  examinant  moft  folemnly  declares  that  he  never  entertained  or 
was  concerned  in  any  dcfign  whatever  againll  the  intcrcft  and  fafety  of 
America. 

George  Brewerton. 

Taken  before  us  the  25th  oi  June,  1776. 

Philip  Livingston, 

GOVVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 

Know  all  men  by  thefe  prefents,  that  we,  George  Brewerton  and  Jacob 
Brewerton  of  the  City  of  New-Tori,  Efquires,  are  held  and  firmly  bound 
unto  John  Haring,  Efq.,  Prefident  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of 
New-1  ork,  in  tne  funi  of  five  hundred  pounds,  lawful  money  of  the 
Colony  of  New-Tork,  to  be  paid  to  the  faid  Jol^n  Haring,  his  executors, 
adminiftrators,  or  afligns ;  for  the  payment  whereof  we  do  bind  ourfclves, 
our  heirs,  executors  and  adminillrators,  jointly  and  (everally  by  thefe 
prefents.     Sealed  with  our  feals,  and  dated  the  2;ih  day  of  June,  1776. 

The  condition  of  this  obligation  is  fuch,  that  if  the  above  bounden 
George  linwerlon  fliall,  upon  reafonable  notice  unto  him  given,  or  left 
at  the  ufual  place  of  his  abode,  attend  the  Provincial  Congrefs,  or  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  faid  Congrefs,  at  fuch  lime  and  place  as  he  Ihall  be 
required,  then  the  above  obligation  to  be  void,  elle  to  remain  in 
force. 

George  Brewerton, 
Jacob  Brewerton. 


Scaled  and  delivered  in  the  prefencc  of 


Philip  Livingston, 
Gouverneur  Morris. 


Whereas  George  Brewerton,  Efquire,   ftood   charged   before  us  with 


oeing 


(  95  ) 


being  pnvy  to  c.r,a.n  dangerous  dcfigns  and  treafonable  confpiracies 
agamft  the  ngh.s  and  libcr.ies  of  America  ,  and  whereas.  aft„  ftria  „ 
qu,ry  ,nto  the  feveral  allegations  againft  the  faid  George  Bre^er.l  I 
are  of  op.n.on  that  the  faid  charge  is  not  well  founded  :  We.  .ZlT. 
mjuft,cetothe  faid  George  Bre.erUn,A.  here-  certify  the  tl' 
Andasthe  a.d  G«.,.  Bre.er.„,  together  with  jJtBre^lZ 
have  g.ven  bond  to  the  Pref.den.  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  for  '; 
appearance  of  h„„.  the  faid  George  Bre.er,on,  before  the  Congrefs 

■s  Colony  whenever  called  upon,  for  his  good   behaviour  as  a'   Hend 
Ipon  us  ""'•    ""  "'""'''   '""   '--  ^"    ^""^"    --dance 

Given  under  our  hands  the  2;th  day  of  June.  1776 
To  Mr.  WV...X  v..  Z^Nnr.   .  LieuUnm  in   Colonel  Usher's 

Whereas  AW.,  C,,«.^,  of  ,he  City   of  Neu,.rork,  Innkeeper 

fold  to  tl^e  fa.d   Hugh  certam  quantities  of  gunpowder,  which  there  i, 
gjea^reafontofufpeathe  faid  NUhol.  obtained  fro.  the  enelel 
^-.r...andforthepurpofeof  injuring   its  caufe;  and   whereas  it  i, 
reprcfcntedtousthatthefaidA^^W.  is  notorioufly  difaffcaed  to    h 
^™  caufe  :  We  do.  therefore,  in  purfuance  of'a   certain  refolve  o 
the  Congrefs  o   the  Colony  of  Ne.-Tork,  authorize  and  require  you  to 
apprehcn    the  fa.d   Nicholas  Connery,  and  n,ake   diligent   fearch     „  1 
d  vcll.ng-houfe  and  other  buildings  for  gunpowder,  and  other  i.ple.ents 
o   war.  and  the  fame  in  fafe  cuftody  to  keep,  and  the  faid  Nicbol  forth- 
w,  h  to  brmg  before  us.  to  the  end  that  we  may  inquire  into  the  premifes 
and  make  fuch  order  in   the  premifes   as  may  be  necefl-ary ;   an     mlc' 
yo^rns  to  us   of  the   manner  in    which   you   fl,alf 'e  Jte  iu 

Given  under  our  hands  this  25th  day  of  June,  1776. 

John  Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR  MoRRlS. 

C/Vy  «/ New  York,  ss  : 

HolyE,.„gel,rts.dodepofe,  that  they,  together  with  Miebael  Tromper 

and 


(  96  ) 


and  Abraham  Broteer,  fomewhcre  about  the  2d  or  3d  day  of  May,  were  in 
company  at  the  houfe  of  Mr.  Elliwortb  at  Paului-Hmk  ;  that  while  there, 
Jtha  Taylcr  came  in,  and  after  calling  for  wine,  and  prefling  them  to 
drink,  pulled  out  a  good  many  bills,  declaring  that  he  had  then  five  hun- 
dred pounds  about  him,  which  he  had  received  for  lands  fold  by  him  in 
Morru  County ;  that  he  had  been  up  there  twice  before,  and  received  in 
all  upwards  of  feventeen  hundred  pounds,  and  that  he  expefted  to  go  up 
again  and  receive  more.  That  thefe  deponents  were  much  furpriled  to 
hear  the  faid  Taylor  make  fuch  declarations,  as  they  took  him  to  be  in 
low  circumftances,  and  knew  him  to  be  a  man  of  infamous  charafter. 
That  the  faid  Taylor  was  then  armed  with  piftols  and  a  cullafs,  and  gave 
as  a  reafon  for  carrying  thofe  arms  that  he  was  afraid  of  being  infulted 
upon  the  road  And  the  faid  James  Campbell  further  faith  that  he  be- 
lieves the  faid  John  Taylor  to  be  greatly  difaffefted  to  the  American  caufe, 
as  the  faid  Taykr  is  intimate  with  Gilbert  Forbes  and  others  of  the  like 
(lamp.  And  further  he  faith,  that,  at  the  time  above-mentioned,  the  faid 
John  Taylcr  pulled  out  a  purfe,  in  which  was  gold  and  filver,  about  three 
inches  deep  and  three  or  four  inches  in  diameter  ;  and  further  '.hefe  depo- 

nents,  or  either  of  them,  fay  not. 

James  Campbell, 
Alexander  Anderson. 

Sworn  before  us,  the  25th  day  o(June,  1776: 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR   MoRRIS. 

City-Hall,  New-York,  June  26,  1776. 

The  Committee  met  purfuant  to  adjournment ;  and,  for  want  of  room, 
adjourned  to  Scott's  Tavern:  Prefent,  Mr.  Philip  Livinglion,  Mr.  2'red- 
teell.  Colonel  Graham,  Mr.  Randall,  Mr.  Ganfet'oort. 

The  gendemcn  prefent  unanimoully  chofc  Leonard  Ganfevoort,  Efq., 
Chairman  pro  tempore. 

The  Committee  refumed  the  confideration  of  the  cafe  of  Doctor  Samuel 
Mitrlia.  The  proceedings  of  yefterday  as  to  Mr.  Martin  were  read  ; 
and  the  Committee  refumed  the  queftion,  the  determination  of  which  was 
poftponed  yefterday,  and  the  fame  quelUon  was  put  by  the  Chairman. 

And 


(  97  ) 


7ZIT  '""""''-"'  '--  t-c  place  of  hi,  prefent  refidTn  , 
there  .,  not  .„y  proof  offered  or  known   to  thi,  Committee  that  he  ha 

of  this  Colony  on  the  1 7th  day  of  Fe6ru<,r,  laft. 

RefiM  unanim^yfly.  That  Dr.  Martin's  parole  be  taken  that  he  will 
not.  d,rc«ly  or  .ndireaiy.  oppofe  or  contravene  the  meafures  of  the  Co! 

nental  Congrcfs  or  the  Congrefs  of  thi,  Colony,  and  .ha,  hi^;, 
together  wuh  the  above  mentioned  bond,  i,  fufficicnt  fecurity 

ckre   upon  my  honour,  that  I  will  not.  direftl.  or  indiredly.  oppofe  or 

:;:;  ci:;;^^'^"  °^ ''-  '-^--^  ^-«^^^'-  -^^-^  cLgre^; 

Samuel  Martin. 
A  certified  copy  of  which  Parole  was  given  to  the  faid  Sa.ue/ Mar,„ 
Mr.  ^.r  ,.  ,hen  rcqucfted  that  feme  certificate  might  be  given  to  him  to 

Thereupon  a  Certificate  .vas  given  to  Mr.  Marn„  in  the  words  follow- 
*»'5»  VIZ , 

In  a  Special  Committee  of  the  Colony  of  New-York,  i 
\xn.  n  June  26.  1776.  \ 

;He.to  ^o  behave  Hi.fc.f  peaceabi;:!;:::;::^j:  /^r 

fures  o   the  Con.men.al  Congrefs  of  the  United  Colonies  or  of  the  "n 

wh  t\:7  °'  ^^■'■''''  "^  '''  '""'^^'^  -""^  fo  to  do    and 

whereas  .he  fa.      W  ;^,,,,  ,„„  „,  ,^^  ,^,^  ^         ^°  • 

ra,d  Congrefs  of  ,h.s  Colony  ,ha,  he  will  not.  direftly  or  indireftly  opp  fl 
or  contravene  the  meafures  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  of  L  Cot 

of  the  Un,ted  CoIon.es.  and  to  all  other  perfons  whomfoever.  on,  to  mo- 
left. 


TOrnirti 


{98  ) 


left,  interrupt,  or  diftiirb  the  faid  Samuel  Martin  while  he  coniinuej  10 
fulfil  the  condition  of  his  faid  bond,  and  to  obferve  and  keep  his  parole  of 
honour. 

Ordered,  That  Summons  do  ifluc,  &c. 

Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 

Know  all  men  by  thcfc  prcfents,  that  wc,  Jmes  Mattbeua,  of  Mal- 
Ibewsffld,  in  the  PrecinO  oi  Cornwall,  in  the  County  of  Orange,  gentle- 
man, inA  Nathaniel  Strong,  of  Blooming-Grove,  in  the  Precinft  and 
County  aforefaid,  Efquires,  are  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  John  Uaring, 
Efq.,  Prefident  of  the  Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of  New-Tori,  in  the  fum  of 
five  hundred  pounds,  lawful  money  of  New- fori,  to  be  paid  to  ihc  faid 
Join  Haring,  his  executors,  adniinillrators,  or  afligns;  for  the  payment 
of  which  fum  wc  do  bind  ourfelvcs,  jointly  and  fcverally,  firmly  by  thcfe 
prcfents.     Sealed  with  our  feals,  dated  the  26th  day  o(  June,  1776. 

The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  fuch,  that  if  the  above  bounden 
^ames  Matthews  fliall,  on  rcafonable  notice  to  him  given,  or  left  at  the 
ufual  place  of  his  abode,  attend  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony  for  the  time 
being,  or  a  Committee  thereof  hereunto  duly  authorized  and  appointed, 
and  anfwer  fur'  matters  as  may  be  alleged  againll  him,  and,  in  the  mean 
time,  fhall  r  icher  dircflly  nor  indirectly  contravene  or  oppofc  the  mca- 
fures  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  Ihall  approve  himfelf  a  good  friend  to  the  American  caufe, 
then  the  above  obligation  fhall  be  void,  otherwife  remain  in  full  force  and 
virtue. 


SeaL'd  and  delivered  in  the  prefencc  of 


James  Matthews, 
Nathaniel  Strono. 

Philip  Livingston, 
GouvE»%ei-n  Morris. 


I,  James  Matthews,  Efquire,  of  Orange  County,  in  ti\e  Colony  of  S'm 
fori,  do  mod  folemnly  declare  that  the  claims  of  the  £i'iup  I'arliaiiicnt 
to  bind,  at  their  difcretion,  the  People  of  the  United  Colonics  in  America 
in  all  cafes  whatfoever,  are,  in  my  opinion,  abfurd,  unjuft  and  tyrannical ; 
and  that  the  hoftile  attempts  of  their  fleets  and  armies  to  enforce  fubmif- 
fion  to  thofe  wicked  and  ridiculous  claims  ought  to  be  refilled  by  arms ; 

and 


(  99  ) 


f   red.   ,0  defend  by  arm,  thefe  United  Colonies  .gaintt  ,he  faid  hott,lc 

the  Congrefl-es  or  future  General  AITemblie,  of  thi,  Colony  have.  orft..Il 
for  that  purpofe.  make  and  eftabliib.  ve.  or  mail. 

New  York.  June  ,6.  ,776.  J-«  M.„„.w,. 

iITT"""  being  fwo^n,  faith  :  That  when  he  was  firft  put  into  the 
Ja.1  of  ,h,s  e.,y.  vz:  about  fix  weeks  ago.  he  wa,  confined  there  in  the 
ftp,e  roon,  w.th  rW  A-.,,,,  of  the  city  of  N.u,  Tork.  hoftler;  tha, 
e  fatd  /.,.,„  ,fl,,d  .his  deponent  where  he  came  fro.  ;  deponent  told 
hm,  h    was  oorn  and  brought  up  in  QW.  County  ;  he  a/kcd  this  de- 

he  fa  d  A;..„.„  thereupon  fpoke  very  freely  to  thi,  deponent  on  the  fub- 

«  o.po,.,c  ,  and  faid  he  would   be  da,nned  if  the  fleet  did  not  come 

oon  and  let  the,,  all  out ;  he  confefTed  to  this  deponent  that  he  had  fcveral 

nrnes    een  on  board  the  D.U,,Uf.a.r,.n.  wLre  he  had  feen  y^' W 

HuUt..,  rw.  CW/..  that  he  alfo  feen  Governour  Tr,.n  often,  and 

hat  the  Governour  would  talk  very  free  with  ,he,n  ;  tha,  they  had  on  board 

le:';;:^^'''"^'"'"^'''"*"'^''"'"^'''-''^™-''^-^ 

fld    h  T"°"  '''^  "'"'"-^  ''''''''  '"'  '"°->'  -'^  -hat  he  ex- 

Pcaed  the  next  day  ,„  receive  it;  that  the  next  dav  the  faid  Thom.s 
reccved  a  letter  which  he  faid  was  from  the  Governou,  and  alfo  fome 
water.w.rk  money,  which  he  faid  they  counterfeited  on  board  the  Duube, 
and  he  hnnielf  had  feen  them  printing  it  off,  that  they  had  a  cheft  oH  ' 
Th,s  deponent  fay,  that  the  money  aforefaid  refembled  .he  faid  water- 
work  money  fo  much  thathefl,ould  have  taken  it  for  genuine  bu  1. 
he  paper  leemed  to  be  rather  thicker.     The  faid  A'.  Jf„„he    to 

And  this  deponent  further  faith  :  That  the  faid  Ver.on  told  him  thev 
«.re  ,nl,mng  men  in  the  King's  fervice.  and  that  a  Captain  in  Col  nTl 
M.^.^^/.  Reg,me„t.  whofe  name  this  deponent  cannot  recoiled,  had 
a  comm-flion  from  Governour  Tr,.n  for  that  purpofe ;  that  a  man,  w'hont 
the  fa,d  Vnn.n  told  th,s  deponent  was  the  faid  Captain,  came  one  day 

ta 


^p  iiji..,jjM;i.ii.....".. 


iiSS3S?r?5S^»" 


(   loo  ) 


10  the  doc .  of  the  room  in  whicli  this  deponent  and  the  faid  Vtrnan  were 
confined,  ana  converfci  with  the  faid  Vernon  through  the  hole  of  the 
door,  but  this  deponent  did  not  overhear  them ;  that  when  he  went 
awav,  Vnnon  told  this  deponent  that  was  the  Captain  w*io  was  in- 
liiting  men  for  Governour  Tr/on,  and  that  he  had  got  a  hundred.  The 
faid  Vernon  alfo  told  this  deponent  that  he  had,  by  Governour  Tryeiff 
order,  engaged  with  Dau/kim,  an  engraver,  who  had  been  taken  up  on  a 
charge  of  counterfeiting  money,  to  go  on  beard  the  Duubejs  and  cut 
money  plates  for  the  Governour,  and  that  the  Governour  was  to  give  the 
faid  Dawkim  a  hundred  pounds  for  his  trouble ;  and  that  'he  faid  Vernon 
was  to  have  carried  him  on  board  had  not  Dawkim  got  drunk  and  told 
iiim  tliat  he  (the  faid  Vernon)  was  going  to  carry  him  on  board,  which  being 
made  known  to  him  (the  faid  Vernon),  he  was  afraid  to  attempt  carrying 
him  off  at  the  time  appointed,  and  thai  Dawkins  immediately  iftcr  difap- 
peared.  The  faid  Vernan  further  told  this  deponent  that  hc-wat  in  Jail  with 
Datokins  before,  that  Dawkim  left  his  chcft  open,  and  that  he,  (Vernon) 
intending  to  take  fomething  out  of  his  cheft  and  make  hii.i  treat  him  for 
giving  it  to  him  again,  opened  the  chcft  and  found  in  it  a  plate  to  ftrike 
Penn/ylvania  money,  and  kept  it  near  a  week ;  that  Dankins  when  he 
mifled  it,  was  very  uneafv,  and  he  {l\\c  faid  Vernon)  again  delivered  it  to 
him. 

This  deponent  further  fays :  That  when  Thomas  Rickey  and  Michael 
Lynch,  o^t\\c  General's  Guards,  were  apprehended  for  money-making,  they 
were  confined  in  the  fame  room  with  this  deponent ;  that  they  then  curfcd 
and  fwore  a  great  deal  and  damned  thcmfclves  if  they  would  ever  fight  any 
mort  for  America  ;  thit  this  deponent  talked  Tory  with  them,  and  by 
that  means  they  came  to  confide  in  him ;  that  Ilickey  and  Lynch  faid 
there  were  near  feven  hundred  men  inlifted  for  the  King,  and  that  the 
night  before  the  fleet  arrived  they  were  to  have  notice  of  it,  that  they  were 
to  repair  towards  Kings  Bridge  and  join  them  ;  and  that  fome  of  the 
fleet  were  to  go  up  the  North  River,  and  another  party  up  the  Eafl 
River,  and  fo  furround  the  Ifland.  Deponent  underftood  from  them  that 
they  were  both  inlifted,  and  their  names  fent  on  board  the  man-of-war. 
They  alfo  faid  that  the  Jrmy  was  very  corrupt,  and  fpoke  very  flightly 
of  Colonel  MrZ)o«^(7//V  Regimen:.  That  when  the  news  came  to  their 
room  that  the  plot  was  difcovered,  and  that   the  Congrcfs  had  taken  up 

fome 


(    'OI    ) 


Sworn  the  .6th  d.y  of  7*«.  ,776.  ^""''  ^°"''°*- 

John  Jay, 

GODVERNEL      MoWUS. 

J'^^;['\^"l^'^''^»''-''^<^i.f^r.^^rr.Uh:    Th«  he   know, 

■n  town.  f.,ucnt„  a.  M.  O^ry,  and  Mrs.  l:£''h  '  h  ^i;  "of" 
o  d,er.  .ea„  a  „,or.  .rown  h.n.ing  coat  and  a  dou  J/^  7,:j;; 
hc^amc  co,o„.,  .  ,.He  .fed  to  w.lt  o»  a  M.  M,,r.  who  lives        dg« 

m  Mr.  G,uvfr«our's  houfe  on  R,tu>,  Row.-   that  Sercr^nf   r    A       f 

f".i„,  .„d  ,.M  ,M.  „.„„.„.  r„„  ,^,  G,v    L  Ih  .  '  "'y* 

h?  t  Id  7™;;-  "' """'"' ""  «""■"■'  ■»''  "•''  ■!»« 

J.   r      °"    ?■'"'• '"  ""'^"""  "  »'■"'■  !••  "  ™"«~d 

thax 


(    I02    ) 

they  were  immediately  to  attack  the  battery  on  the  hill  near  the  ferry 
whtch  the  Sergeant  faid  would  be  eaf.ly  done,  as    no  embrafures  were 
.  made  or  cannon  fixed  on  the  back  fide  of  it;  that  this  latter  battery,  when 
m  their  pofl-eflion,  „„uld   command   the   works  on    G.«r«.,.rV  Ifland 
which  ,hey  would  keep  between   two  fires,  vi^  :   the    battery  laft   men- 
tioned on  the  one   fide,  and   the  fhipping  on  the  other;  that  then  the 
fl>.pp.ng.  with  the  remainder  of  the    Army,  were  to  divide,  one  divifion 
was  to  run  up  the  North  Rn.er  and  land  at  or  near  about  CMe^s  farm, 
and  march  diredly  to  E„ck„l,ergb  Hall,  and  fortify  there;  the  other  di- 
vifion  was   to  run  up  the  Eajl  Rhcr  and  land  in  fuch  manner  as  to  gain 
a  footmg  on  Jona's  Hill,  from  whence  .hey  expefted  to  command  and 
filence  the  battery  on  Bayard's  Hill;   that  (hould  they  gain  pofleffion  of 
Che  places    above-mentioned,  their  next  objedl  would  be  the  grounds  ad- 
jacent to  King\  Bridge,    where  they    intend    to   ered   ftrong   works, 
fo  as  to  cut  off  the  communication  between  the  city  and  country. 

Gilbert  Forbes,  being  further  examined,  faith  :  That  fome  time  before 
the  man-of-war  removed    from  the  town  to  the  Narrows,  one  Webb,  a 
burr-millllone  maker,  told  examinant  that  if  he  had   any  rifles  to  fell  he 
might  get  a  good  price  for  them  by  fending  them   on  board  the  man-of- 
war,  and  that  a  young  man  who  lived  with  James  Bivington  told  him  the 
fame;  that  this  examinant  had  then  nine  rifles,  which  he  made,  but  they 
were  bad  and  would  not  flioot  ftraight.  and  eleven  fmoo.h  narrow-bored 
guns ;  that  he  fent  fome  of  them  to  one  Mrs.  Beck's,  a  tavern-keeper,  near 
the  Fly  Market,  with  orders  to  fend  them  on  board,  which  flie  according 
did,  and  that  the  faid  Webb  carried  the  remainder;   that   the  faid  Webb 
told  this  examinant  that  Governour  Tryon  would  give  him  three  guineas 
apiece  tor  them  ;   that  at   the  time  when  an  exchange  of  prifoners  took 
place  with  the  man-of-war.  and  Lilly  was.  among  others,  exchanged,  the 
Mayor,  viz  :  Da^nd  Matthews,  Efq.,  fent  for  this  examinant  and  told  him 
he  was  going  on  board  the  Governour's  fliip.  and  that  he  would  get  the 
money  due  from  the  Governour  to  this  examinant  for  the  rifles  aforefaid  ; 
that  on  his  return  the  Mayor  told  this  examinant  he  would  pay  him  in  a 
few  days ;    that  this  examinant   never  did  receive  any  money  from  him 
for  the  faid  fire-arms ;   that  this   examinant   told  Charles  lienjon  that  he 
was  about  inlifting  men.  and  that  he  told  this  examinant  it  would  do. 

CiiLBERT  Forbes. 
Examined 


(  ^03  ) 

Exa^-ned  by  and  before  me,  this  .9th  ./.,..  .776. 

Philip  Livingston. 

The  Con,n,it,ee  „,e,  a^  the  Citv  IT'^^'^'n"  ^""^  ''•  '''^^ 
ruan,  to  adjournment.  ^         '  '"  '^'  ^°""^"  Chamber,  pur- 

Prefent :  Leonard  Ganfevoort    V(r,    nv  • 

'"iflon,  Mr.  w.//.  m;  r;/u,  rr"/" '""""-  ""'■  '■'''■ 

H<h- c  ::^^^^^^^     -^  :r-'  '^'— -trthe 

he  was  who    M  before   his  Co.''  "  °'  ""=  '"^'"'^  "P™-  "'« 

which  was  offered  to  hU- 33 17  '■    ^  t'  "«"'"«  °'  '^=  ''"°'<^ 
ftrued  on  ,he  other  fide  of  th.  '"'"'   """^   P""''^   '"'g'^'  ^e  con- 

forfeit  his  eftateVherf  "'    "  "  °""  '^"  ='"'^    -'»=  "<•=  ^^  to 

Mr.  .rfjf/i-// further  fav?  fhr.f  1,.,  • 
-y  a«i.e  par,  again;*^    'n;'^;:  ^  'I  '''  f  ^f^'^  -'  ''^  ^^^= 
'he  duty  of  a  good  citizen.  '"^''''"^  '"™"'"'«'="'  *'"' 

Mr  ^.,,//.  at  the  requeft  of  the  Committee,  withdrew. 
1  he  Committee  then  took  Mr  ytjft,//',  „    .■    , 
a.ion  ,  and  after  fome  time  fpc!  "thl"^    h'e  "        "         '"^  """'"■ 
particular  fituation  of  Mr.  ZJslZ'  "'""  ^^""^    ^'^"  "^^ 

opinion  of  this  Commit^..  '      P'°P'"^  '''  '■''^*'  '''  '"  "«: 

which  it  is  not  in ;:: : :  rr eo  ^^"""'^  ^^°^'^°"  ■■-  ^'= «^- 

fore,  .his  Commiuee  wiHrtat  ST    "  T^  ""'"     ''''"  "'"^• 

CongrefsofthisCoIony     rX;  la  T  "'  '"  ""'^^  "  ""= 

mean  .ime.  difcharge  Mr  ".^;;on  h,  '"  ''"'"'■'■"'  '"'^'  ''"  '''' 

on  receipt  of  a  Jr  or  nolXltXKe  ''  ^"^"^  "''  ^°^--- 

orJ!e^ti:\::"t;ra"'f?'^'  -'"^^  P^erent  determination 
any  time  on  req.^';       '  '  '''  ''''""''"'"'  ""  "'-<^  "'-  again  af 

-•t  would  be  diirtab  e7'hi:    "  '""''  ''"''''  '°  '""^ '  ^^  ''>- 

agreeable^to  h,m  ,0  remove  out  of  ,he   Colony.     Mr. 

Ax/e// 


•y-'-j   ii.ii»Mii..i 


(   i04  ) 

Axu// farther  fays  that  if  all  the  eftatehc  was  porefledof  was  in  America 
only,  he  would  not  hefilate  to  determine  the  matter  and  fully  exprefs  his 
.fenfments,  which,  in  his  opinion,  it  i,  not  proper  for  him  to  do  in  his 
prefcnt  Htuation. 

Ordered,  That  Summonfes  ifl-uc  againft  the  following  perfons  of 
equivocal  charafter.  returnable  on  Saturday,  the  29th  inllant.  at  ten 
o  clock  m  the  forenoon  of  the  fame  day,  vi7.:  Ci^r/es  NUoll,  Dcnald 
MeCltan,  and  Peter  Graham. 

Which  faid  fummonfes.  figned  by  all  the  Members  prefent  as  afore- 
faid,  were  delivered  to  the  Secreury.  with  direftions  to  give  them  to  the 
Meflenger  to  be  fervcd. 

Ordered,  That  Summonfes  iflbe  againft  the  following  perfons  as  in- 
imical  to  the  caufe  and  rights  of  America,  returnable  on  Monday,  the  ift 
day  of  July,  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  that  day.  viz :  Theo- 
pbiha  Bache,  Charles  Arden.  John  More,  Sen.,  and  Benjami^  Williams. 
Which  faid  fumraonfes.  figned  by  all  tl.e  Members  prefent  as  afore- 
faid,  were  delivered  to  the  Secretary,  with  direftions  to  give  them  to  the 
Meflenger  to  be  ferved. 

Ordered,  That  fummonfes  iflLe  againft  the  following  perfons  as  inimical 
to  the  caufe  and  rights  of  America,  returnable  on  Wednefday,  the  3d 
day  of  July  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  fame  day.  viz  : 
Frederick  Philipfe  and  Samuel  Merrit. 

Which  faid  Summonfes,  figned  by  all  the  members  prefent  as  aforefaid 
were  delivered   to  the  Secretary,  with  diredions  to  deliver  them  to  the 
Meflenger  to  be  ferved. 

Ordered,  That  a  Summons  be  iffued  to  Richard  Morris,  Efq.,  as  a 
perfon  of  equivocal  charaft^r,  returnable  on  Wednefday,  the  3d  Ly  of 
July  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  that  day. 
■  Which  faid  Summons,  figned  by  all  the  Members  prefent  as  a  orefaid, 
was  delivered  to  the  Secretary,  with  direftions  to  deliver  it  to  the  Mef- 
fenger  to  be  ferved. 

Ordered,  That  a  fummons  be  iflucd  to  Solomon  Fowler,  as  a  perfon  of 
equivocal  charafter,  returnable  on  Thurfday,  the  4th  day  of  July  next,  at 
ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  that  day. 

Which  faid  Summons,  figned  by  all  the  Members  prefent  as  aforefaid, 

wu 


(  '05  ) 


OrJrreJ   That  Summonfcs  iflbc  agairft  the  following  pcrfons  as  inimi 
o  .he  cau  e  and  ngh.s  or  J.„,..  ...able  on  7.41>.  he  a    '"; 

Wh.ch  fa,d  Summonfes.  figned  by  all  the  Men.bers  prefen,  as  afore- 

OrW.  That  Su„,monfes  bo  iflbed  to  the  following  perfons.as  i.i„,ical 
.0  he  caufe  and  r.ghts  of  A„.ru.,  returnable  on  Frily,  the  c.h  day  o 

atf;::';;.;;:r '"""^"-"^  '^-- -••  --  -^ 

Which  faid  Sun,mo„fes,  figned  by  all  the  Members  prefent  as  afore- 
fa.  were  dehvercd  to  the  Secretaiy.  with  dircflions  Z  deliver  them 
to  the  Meffengcr  to  be  (brved. 

c.u''T'^'  ?"'  ,^"'^°'"""  ">■-  "S^'-'ft  'he  folbwing  perfons  as  inimi- 
al  .0  he  caufe  and  rights  of  A..r,..  returnable  on  W.,.  the'h 

WU      VT":  '"  "'"^^  '"   "-^'-noonof  ,hcfa.„eday.viJ 
W,//,am  Barker,  Jojhun  Purdy,  and  Abfa/om  Gidnr,. 

Which  faid  Summonfes.  figned  by  all  ,he  Members  prefent  as  afore- 

c"M7C::be::i""""^'""  ^-^^-^ '°  ^--^-^^ 

..^"'■"•.^.'f ''^^  Tf-a.  a  Summon,  be  iilix.d  to  ^.  Honourable 
d  T.T.'  "  "  ^"'"°"  "*'  '='J"»°"'-haraaer.  returnable  on  6W- 
d^y,^  the  6>h  day  of  July  ne,t.  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  fame 

Which  faid  fummons.  figned  by  all  the  Members  prefent  as  aforefaid. 
was  dehvered  to  the  Secretary,  with  direaions  .o  deliver  it  .o  the  Mef 
fenger  to  be  ferved. 

this  Colony  for  their  direflion  in  the  premifes. 
Adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning. 
A  cafe  ftated  by  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Congreft  of  this 

Colony 


Ij 


(   '06  ) 


Colony  to  carry  into  execution  iheir  Rcfoiuiions  of  the  ?th  day  of  Jyne 
inftant,  relative  to  pcrfons  inimical  to  the  caufe  and  lights  of  Jmeric/,, 
and  thofe  of  equivocal  charafter:  A.  B..  holding  an  honorary  office 
from  the  King  of  Great-Britain,  and  being  a  gentleman  of  fortune,  was 
fummoned  to  appear  before  your  Committee,  and  appeared  at  the  time 
and  place  for  that  purpofe  appointed. 

On  his  appearance  before  your  faid  Committee,  the  Chairman  informed 
him  of  the  Refolutions  of  this  Congrefs  as  to  perfons  of  equivocal  cha- 
rafter,  and  defired  him  to  give  evidence  of  his   being  a  friend  to  the 
American  caufe.     The  gentleman  appealed   to  the  uniform  tenour  of  his 
conduft,  which    he   faid,    had   never  been    unfriendly  to    his  country. 
Being   then  alked  whether  he  approves  of  the  American  oppofition.  he 
replied  that  he  did  not  on  the  whole,   and  figniiied   a  difapprobation  of 
the   Canada  expedition.     On   being  afked  whether  the  Parliament  of 
Great  Britain,  in  his  opinion,  have  a   right  to  bind  thefe  Colonies  in  all 
cafes  whatfoever,  he  faid  that,  in  his  opinion,  they  had  not ;  that  he  fully 
approved  of  the  firll  part  of  the  .Aflbciation  refolved  on  by  this  Congrefs 
on  the  20th  day  of  June,  inttant.     On  being  afked  whether  a  refillance, 
by  arms,  to  the   hoftile  attempts  of  the  Britijk  fleets   and  armies  to  en- 
force and  execute  their  claims  and  demands  was  juftifiable,  he  declined 
to  give  an   anfwcr.  but  declared  that  the  bulk  of  his  fortune  was  in  Great 
Britain  and  the  Weft  Indies,  and  that  he  did  not  mean  to  take  an  aftive 
part  on  either  fide. 

Your  Committee  thereupon  refolved  that  he  is  not  fuch  a  friena  to  the 
American  caufe  as  is  dcfcribed  in  your  faid  refolutions  of  the  5th  inftant ; 
that  his  removal  from  his  prefcnt  place  of  refidence  was  unncccflary ;  and 
that  his  parole,  in  the  words  dircftcd  by  your  faid  refolutions,  was  fuffi- 
cicnt  fecurity. 

The  gentleman  affigned  objeftions  to  givo  his  parole,  ind  faid  he  would 
fubmit  to  fuch  a  difpofition  of  him  as  your  Committee  fliould  make.  He 
then  had  two  days  allowed  him  to  confider  of  the  faid  parole,  at  which 
time  he  returned  to  your  faid  Committee. 

On  his  return  to  your  Committee  the  gentleman  was  of  the  fame 
opinion  as  before,  and  faid  he  could  not  confent  to  give  his  parole  "  not 
to  oppofc  or  contravene  the  meafures  of  the  Continental  Congrefs  or  the 

Congrefs 


(  I07  ) 


Congrefs  of  this  Colony  "  „,  I,;.    •  • 

I  he  gentleman  offered  to   vn,.,-  r^„       • 
'^k-nyaaivepartagainft    hi    c  T  '°  «"^  "'  P""'"^  "ot  to 

"^<^  du.y  of  a  good  cEn  ""''  "  '°  ^"^"''"^  --««-'  wi.h 

-ve  with  his  fa.i,    to  :„    C      .;  in^h     C  f""   ^J  ^  -"""«  '° 
^%-d  ,0  hin,,   but  intiited   .h'a    t  wj.d  teTf  M '^"  """'^ 

■■emove  out  of  ,he  Colony.  He  alfo  Z  ,  ^.fagrecable  to  hin,  to 
his  whole  eftate  was  in  the^/^w  r  f °™  ^°"'  *^°"""'"'^<^  '^"^  if 
to  determine  the  mati  ani  r  TT"'^  *"=  ^""''^  "^  '^=«-«^ 
opinion,  it  is  not  p.ope  fo.Lt;'''^^  .  '""""^""'  ^'"'^'^  '"  "'= 
affairs.  ^  ""  '°  ^°  '"   '^"^   P^='"'^nt   fitua.ion    of  his 

Vour  Committee  believe  the  gentleman    to   K» 
«nd  integrity ;  and  have  no,  the  Lftdol  h  ,  .  "  "'"  °^ '''«'  ''°"°"^ 
wiil  confent  to  give,  he  .ill  ho  d  t.d  a     ^  ;^  '"'  T"  ^''"'  '' 
your  Committee  again  on  notice      But  in  th  •  '"  ="^'="'' 

rolvcs  the,  have  no.  no  ahernale         a     1™:^°'  "^   ""  ^'- 
gentleman,  and  confinement.     The  policv  o    7         r  "^""'^  ""= 

-"---ongre.andre,ue^::L:::;;t--- 
il/r.  Nathaniel  UNOEiiHiLL  • 

Congrefs.  were  au.hori  JaL^Z  ;    J^"'^'  ^  ^^-™«-  "f  the  .id 

condu.  had  been  reprefented  o  e^M  C^Zr  ^"•'"  ''^'™^'  ^'°'' 
and  rights  of  ^„,.^,.  (of  which  numbe'  "  '"'"""'  ^°  ""^  ""'""= 
-at  fuch  time  and  pi  c  J.^lZ'Z  7  "'  °"^  "  ''PP^"  ''^''^^'^ 
-wer  f  h  matters^and  things^  :tJ:^Z^:X,  T  ''"'  '" 
ftow  caufe.  ,f  any  they  have,  why  ,hev  fl,„u)d  h.      ^rf  '    ""'' '° 

-/'ay. 


(  io8  ) 


Z'e  h'  ''''''':' ^"'y  "-'-  «  '-  °f  'he  clock  in  ,he  forenoon  of  the 
fame  day.     Dated  .he  27,h  day  or  y,„,,  ,776. 

Leonard  Gansevoort,         Gouv'r  Morris. 
Phil.  LivmcsroN.  Thomas  Tredwell, 

Thomas  Randall.  Lewis  Graham. 

Wonreswe^alfo  iTucd  againft   ,he  following  perfons :    W,,„„ 
fX  Mr'7  /  w" f  r"'  ""'''''"'  ^'"•'^""'^^r.  Mr.  CMy/.,^,. 
IheophlusHMook,  Mr.  >i„  ^M„,,.  m,  s,„-„„,.„  j^^^^       J 
r.ri   or  FM,JbJ  D..U  B..uy,  (H.mp^Uad,    Long  l^dj  lL 

To  Mr.  Solomon  Fowler,  at  East-Chester  : 

Sir :  By  virtue  of  ,he  authority  vcfted  in  us  by" certain  refolutions  of  the 
Congrefs  of  the  Colony  of  Ne^-Tork,  of  the  ;th  day  of  7*...  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  .776.  reciting,  that  whereas  there  are  in  this  Colony  divers 
P^r^s  who  by  reafon  of  their  holding  offices  fron,  the  King  of'c  J. 
Bra.,n-  fro,,  the.r  having  ncgleded  or  refufed  ,0  aflbciate  with  their 
fellow  c,t.ens  for  the  defence  of  their  con,mon  rights-fron,  their  ha 
g  never  n,a„,fcfted  by  their  conduft  a  .eal  for.  and  an  attachment 

trahty   have  been  confidered  by  their   countrymen   in  a  fujicious  light 
whereby  .t  hath  become  necefl-ary,  as  we.lfor  the  fafety  as  L  t       ^ 
aftion  of  the  people,  (who,    in    times   fo   dangerous   and    critical,  are 
naturaUy  led  .0  conf.dcr  thofe  as  their  enemies  who  withhold  from  them 
he,r  a,d  and  tnfluence.)  that  certain  perfons  in  the  faid  refolutions  named 
of  who.^  you  are  one.)  who  are  generally  fuppofed  to  come  under  th 
bove  delcrtptton.  (hould  be  fummoned  by  a  certain  Committee  to  ft,ow 
cau^.f  any  they  have,  why  they  n,ould  be  conf.dered  as  friends  to  the 
A^eruan  cau^.  and  as  of  the  number  of  thofe  who  arc  ready  to  rifle 
thetr    ves  and  fortunes  in  defence  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of  America 
agamlhhe  ufurpa.ion.  unjuft  claims,  and  cruel  oppreffions   of  the  Britijh 
Parhament   whtch    rights    and  liberties   and   which   unjuft    claims  and 
cruel  oppreffion..  are  fpecified  and  ftated  in  divers  addre(res.  petitions,  and 
remonftrances.of  the  prefent  and  late  Continental  Congreflbs.  and  di- 

reeling 


t 


(  '09  ) 


ca.„gcerta,n  proceeding,   i„  ,he  faid   refolution.  fpecified   to  be  by  the 

ftal  not  adjudge  and  determine  to  befriends  to  the  A..ru,„  caufe  •  We 
o  therefore.  .„  purfuance  of  the  faid  refolution,  fu..on  yo    to  app!^ 

J-'ly  next,  at  ten  o  clock  ,n   the  forenoon  of  the  faid  day.  to  Lw  caufe 

fortune   m  defence  of  the  right,  and    libertie,  of  J.en.,   ,».inft  the 

wh,chngh„  and  hbertie,  and  which  unjuft   claim,  and  cruel  oppreffion 
are,  a,  afore  a.d   fpecified  and  ftatcd   in   divers  addrefles.  peti  o    tnd 

Leonard  Gansevoort.         Lewis  Graham, 
Philip  Livingston,  Gouverneur  Morris. 

Thomas  Tre.wfll.  Thomas  Randall. 

To  Co/cue/  WiLL'AM  .Allison  : 

Whereas  it  i,  reprefented  to  us  that  D.viJ  Baldmn  of  B,r.en  Countv 
m  A;«..7.>,  but  now  in  the  City  of  Ne^.Tork,  can  give'  ery  uf  ,' 
nd  .mportant  .ntclhgcnce  refpe^ing  the  late  difcovered  conspiracy  aga  ft 
the  nght,  and  hbert.es  of  America :  We  do.  therefore,  in  purfuance  fa 
re,o  ve  of  the  Congrefs  of  this  Colony,  .uthorizeand  requeft  you  to  b  in 
he  fa.d  D..i  B.U.ir.  forthwith  before  us.  that  he  may  be  xami  d 
touchrng  the  faid  confpiracy.  "aminea 

Given  under  our  hands  this  29th  June,  1776 : 

Philip  Livingston, 
John  Jay. 

TheinformationofMr.  David  Baldmn:  Saith  he  has  had  reafon,  for 

P  op le  o.  R.„.f,  and  the  men-of-war.  as  well  from  the  temper  of  the 
people  as  from  many  words  dropped  from  time  to  time.     He  favs  t^a 
about  the  .7.hi„ftant   he   was   told  thn  L.r.r...  ,.„  Bu^^X 

miller 


(   "o  ) 

miller  at  Ramape,  Abraham  Van  Buflcirk,  and  a  fchoolmafter,  and  Thomas 
Van  Buflcirk,  at  Saddle  River,  were  going  on  board  the  man-of-war ;  that 
fomething  prevented  all  but  the  fchoolmaftcr,  who  he  verily  believes  did 
go,  and  that  there  is  one  Peter  Van  Bujkirk  living  at  or  near  the  Hook 
or  mouth  of  the  Kills  in  Bergen  County,  who,  it  is  frequently  faid,  has 
followed  trading  with  the  men-of-war,  who  has  reafon  to  believe,  carries 
people  on  board  whenever  rcquefted,  and  has  a  fufficient  craft  for  that 
purpofe  ;  and  that  this  informant  came  to  New-York  on  purpofe  to  let  it 
be  known ;  that  on  his  way  he  flopped  at  Erls's  in  Bergen  woods,  where 
he  was  drinking  tody,  in  company  with  Francis  Stephens,  late  a  refident 
of  this  city,  who  took  him  (the  faid  Baldwin)  to  be  friendly  to  the  Tory 
fide,  when  faid  Stephens  told  Baldwin  that  there  were  fifty  fail  of  King's 
fiiips  near  the  Hook  and  that  there  would  foon  be  one  hundred  and  fifty 
fail  at  New-fork ;  that  Eris  faid  rum  came  from  on  board  the  man-of- 
war  this  week ;  that  Stephens  charged  the  inforinant  not  to  mention  it  to 
fome  certain  friends  of  his  in  New-York. 
Sworn  the  29th  June,  1776,  before  us. 

Phiup  Livingston, 
John  Jay. 


Jojeph  Baldwin,  oppofiie  the  King's  ftores,  tallow-chandler,  is  brother 
to  the  within  informant,  and  will  go  on  any  expedition. 

Li)l  0/ prij'oners  J'ent  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Q\vi  to  Brigadier-General 
Greene,  June  29,  1776. 

Jofeph  Dorlant,  and  John  Ilutcbins  from  Jamaica  jail. 

John  Carman,  received  powder,  and  abfcondcd  in  the  woods. 

Andrew  Allen,  diflafFcfted  perfon,  taken  in  the  woods. 

Jacob  Lamberfon,  found  with  his  gun  charged. 

Benjamin  Pedet,  in  the  fwamp    in  the   fight,  and  had   powder  from 
man-of-war. 

Ezekiel Rainer,  in  the  woods  hid. 

Richard  Smith,  in  the  fwamp  battle,  and  had  powder    from  the  AJia. 

Jeremiah  Bedle,  a  diflafFcded  perfon. 

Daniel  Smith,  in  the  fwamp  battle. 

Elijah  Rainer,  hid  in  the  fwamp. 

Jc/eph 


( III ) 

J^feph  Beale,  fame,  diflaffefted  perfon. 

N.tb,„  Smith,  received  powder  from    the  AJia,  abfconded   in  the 
woods,  and  appears  to  know  much  of  the  fcheme. 

Town/end  Wicks,  a  damned  rafcal,  and  the  greateft  Tory. 
William  McKo,n,  Thomas  Fleet.  John  Fleet.  Peter  Wheeler.  Samuel 
Uwnfend.  declared  that    they  would  fooner  fight  for  the  Kirtg  than  the 
Congrejs,  and  totally  deny  the  authority  of  that  body. 

James  Coggejhall.  gun-ftealer,  or  informer,  from  Newport. 
Henry  Dearling.  faid  General  Wajhington  was  more  concerned  in  the 
confpiracy  than  any  one. 

To  Brig.  Gen.  Greene.  Head-Quarters,  Ltng-IJland. 
Hempftead,  June  29,    1776. 

Ji^'io.  1776-Rcferredtothe  determination  of  the  Congrefs  of 
this  Colony.  ° 

T.  Mifflin,  Brig.  Gtn. 


I 


He.  JS. 


^6, 


Edition  of  250   Copies. 
Of  which    75   Copies  are  in  quarto, 
and    25    Copies   in    folio,    tinted   paper. 


i!^ 


>«K>aKiiilH 


■  mniiiiimn,»,.. ^ 


NAMES 


OP    THE 


SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE  QUARTO  COPIES 


OF 

JUlNt/TKS  OF  A  CONSPIRACr,   DISCOF^HED    IN  NRtfr  YORK 
IN  1776. 
Edition  of  75  Copies  Printed. 
No.    ..  Jabi!z  Fisher  ;  Philadelphia. 

2.  Wu.MAM  .'V.  Whiteman  ;  Philadelphia, 

3.  Francis  S.  Hoffman,  3  copies ;  New  York. 
6.   Francis  B.  Hayes  ;  Bofton. 

7-  J.  M.  Mays  ;  Pliiladclphia. 

8.  RicHARi>  W.  Roche  ;  New  York. 

9.  T.  A.  EMMfirr,  M.  D.,  2  copies  j     New  York. 

11.  W.  Elliot  VVoodwaro;  Roxbury,  Mafs. 

12.  John  H.  Wright;  fiofton. 

13.  Gkorge  VV.  Wales;  fiollon. 

14.  William  F.  Fowle,  2  copies;  Bofton. 

16.  J.  P.  Putnam;  fiolbn. 

1 7.  William  L.  Andrews  ;  New  York. 

18.  Charles  E.  Laurjat;  Bofton. 

19-   Henry  B.  Dawson  ;  Morrifania,  N.  V. 

20.  John  K.  Wiggin,  10  copies  j  Bofton. 

30.  Joseph  Sabin,  10  copies;  New  York. 

40.  J.  Carson  Brevoort  ;  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

41.  Frank  Moore;  New  York. 

42.  Horace  W.  Smith,  5  copies;  Philadelphia. 

47.  Robert  L.  Stuart;  New  York. 

48.  S,  L.  M.  Barlow  ;  New  York. 

49.  John  S.  H.  Fogg.  M.  I). ;  Bofton. 
i°-  <-'•  f-  Bushnell;  Ne„,  York. 


(   114  ) 


No.   ;i.  Erastus  Corning  ; 
-52.  Robert  Lenox  Banks; 

53.  Freeman  M.  Josselynj 

54.  E.  French  1 

55.  George Clasback; 

56.  A.  W.  Griswold  j 

57.  Charles  B.  Richardson,  5  copies ; 

62.  Frank  H.  Little  ; 

63.  Francis  S   Pruvn; 

64.  Alfred  Wild  ; 

65.  J.  MuNSELL,  2  copies; 

67.  Charles  E.  West; 

68.  James  Earxe  ; 

69.  S.  W.  Phcenix; 

70.  Wm.  H.  Piper  &  Co.  ; 
7ii  John  V.  L.  Pruyn  ; 

72.  Thomas  I.  Lee; 

73.  T.  H.  Morrell; 

74.  Augustus  Toedtberg  ; 

75.  John  Campbell  ; 


Albany,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Bofton. 
New  York. 
New  York. 
New  York. 
New  York. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
New  York. 
New  York.  , 

Bofton. 

Albany,  N.  Y. 
Bofton. 
New  York. 
New  York. 
Philadelphia. 


'r 


